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Glite Dictionary
Sabellian

Sabellian

1 9.9
An ancient language of Italy that is extinct and known from a few inscriptions
  • noun
  • /səˈbɛliən/
  • Specialized
: sabelliano
  • Few texts are preserved in Sabellian, making its study a challenge for linguists.

Examples

  • Scholars compare Latin and Sabellian to reconstruct the evolution of Italic languages.

  • The Sabellian language was spoken in ancient Italy.

  • The Sabellian language became extinct in the early centuries BCE.

  • Many Sabellians contributed to the culture of early Italy.

  • Few texts are preserved in Sabellian, making its study a challenge for linguists.

  • Scholars compare Latin and Sabellian to reconstruct the evolution of Italic languages.

  • The Sabellian language became extinct in the early centuries BCE.

Synonyms

Sabellian language
vsSabellian
  • Specialized
9.9

An old language from central Italy known from a few writings on stone

means the same but omits the word that stresses 'primarily' as evidence

Compounds

Sabellian language
  • Specialized
9.9

An old language from central Italy known from a few writings on stone

Surface Forms

Sabellian singular
Sabellians plural

Morphology

Sabellian = Sabell (semi-transparent) = Sabell + ian

Formation with the productive suffix '-ian' is regular, but the root is an obscure proper name (ethnonym), so the form-to-meaning link is not helpful for most learners.

Etymology

Sabellian comes from the name of an ancient group in central Italy, the Sabelli, also called the Sabines. It named the language they spoke, which is now extinct and known only from a few inscriptions, so Sabellian means that old, lost language.