barbarian (noun)

  • 1barbarian — ► NOUN 1) (in ancient times) a member of a people not belonging to the Greek, Roman, or Christian civilizations. 2) an uncivilized or cruel person. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ uncivilized or cruel. ORIGIN from Greek barbaros foreign …

    English terms dictionary

  • 2barbarian — adjective Etymology: Latin barbarus more at barbarous Date: 14th century 1. of or relating to a land, culture, or people alien and usually believed to be inferior to another land, culture, or people 2. lacking refinement, learning, or artistic or …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 3barbarian — (adj.) mid 14c., from M.L. barbarinus (Cf. O.Fr. barbarin Berber, pagan, Saracen, barbarian ), from L. barbaria foreign country, from Gk. barbaros foreign, strange, ignorant, from PIE root *barbar echoic of unintelligible speech of foreigners (Cf …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4barbarian — noun Barbarian is used before these nouns: ↑tribe …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 5barbarian — noun 1) the city was besieged by barbarians Syn: savage, heathen 2) you arrogant barbarian! Syn: brute, beast, philistine, boor, yahoo, oaf, lout; Brit.; informal …

    Synonyms and antonyms dictionary

  • 6barbarian — noun 1》 (in ancient times) a member of a people not belonging to one of the major civilizations (Greek, Roman, Christian). 2》 an uncultured or brutish person. adjective 1》 relating to ancient barbarians. 2》 uncultured; brutish. Origin ME: from… …

    English new terms dictionary

  • 7barbarian — noun (C) 1 someone from a different tribe or land, who people believe to be wild and not civilized (1): The barbarians conquered Rome. 2 someone who does not behave properly, does not show proper respect for education, art etc: educational… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 8barbarian — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. foreigner, outsider, alien, savage; ruffian (See evildoer). adj. uncivilized, barbarous. See unconformity. II (Roget s IV) modif. 1. [Uncivilized] Syn. primitive, uncivilized, barbaric, barbarous,… …

    English dictionary for students

  • 9barbarian — UK [bɑː(r)ˈbeərɪən] / US [bɑrˈberɪən] noun [countable] Word forms barbarian : singular barbarian plural barbarians 1) someone from outside one of the major ancient societies such as Greece or Rome, who was considered to be violent and not… …

    English dictionary

  • 10barbarian — 1. noun the city was besieged by barbarians Syn: savage, heathen, brute, beast, wild man/woman; ruffian, thug, lout, vandal, boor, hoodlum, hooligan, Neanderthal, troglodyte; philistine; informal roughneck, lowlife 2. adjective …

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