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Glite Dictionary
Romaic language

Romaic language

9.9
A common form of Greek spoken since the late Middle Ages
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : lengua romana
  • Many older texts refer to modern Greek as the Romaic language rather than simply Modern Greek.

Examples

  • The scholar devoted his life to the study of the Romaic language and its literature.

  • The Romaic language has evolved significantly over the centuries.

  • During the Ottoman era, the Romaic language was the spoken tongue among Greeks.

  • Is the Romaic language still spoken in Greece today?

  • Many older texts refer to modern Greek as the Romaic language rather than simply Modern Greek.

  • During the Ottoman era, the Romaic language was the spoken tongue among Greeks.

  • The scholar devoted his life to the study of the Romaic language and its literature.

Synonyms

Greek
vsRomaic language
65 3.9

The language spoken in Greece

is specifically the older term for the recent vernacular stage
Modern Greek
vsRomaic language
1 4.5

The Greek language spoken and written since the late Middle Ages

is the older label for that same speech form
Modern Greek language
vsRomaic language
4.2

The form of Greek spoken and written in Greece and Cyprus today

is an older name for this vernacular rather than the current term
New Greek language
vsRomaic language
4.9

The Greek language spoken and written from the Middle Ages to today, also called Modern Greek

is the older term previously used instead of this current label
New Greek
vsRomaic language
5.7

The Greek language people speak and write today

is an older term once used for the same vernacular
Romaic
vsRomaic language
  • Archaic
9.9

A modern everyday form of the Greek language used instead of ancient Greek

is the older name now replaced by the usual current label
Demotic language
vsRomaic language
9.9

Most people use the everyday form of Greek when they speak and write

is a historic term that names the same everyday form
Demotic
vsRomaic language
  • Specialized
9.9

The everyday form of Greek spoken in Greece

is an older label used for that everyday variety

Surface Forms

Romaic language singular
Romaic languages plural

Morphology

Romaic + language

The meaning ('the Modern Greek vernacular') is directly and compositionally derived from 'Romaic' (descriptive of modern Greek) plus 'language' (a named spoken or written system). This follows a standard adjective+noun pattern, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Romaic language gets its name from a time when Greek speakers long ago called themselves 'Romans'. Their everyday speech was called Romaic, the 'Roman' way of speaking, and that name came to mean the common Greek we now call 'Modern Greek'.