Armenian, a. and n.
(ɑːˈmiːnɪən)
[f. L. Armenia, Gr. ἀρµενία, a country east of Asia Minor.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to Armenia or the Armenians. Armenian bole: a pale red-coloured earth from Armenia, used medicinally, and in the composition of tooth-powders. Armenian stone: a blue carbonate of copper, formerly administered as an aperient and as a remedy for epilepsy.
| [1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iv. i. iv, Lapis Lazuli and Armenus because they purge.] 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Armenian bole is..prescribed internally against diarrhœas. 1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle L. iii. 97 The great Armenian Convent at Venice. |
B. n. a. A native of Armenia. b. An adherent of the Armenian Church, one of the oriental christian communities.
| 1598 Greenwey Tacitus Ann. xiii. viii, The Armenians being doubtfull, and faithfull to neither side. 1875 Scrivener Text New Test. 106 The Armenians of the orthodox faith. |
c. The Indo-European language of Armenia.
| 1718 [see Turkish n. 1]. 1817 Byron Let. 2 Jan. (1846) 336/1 Padre Paschal, with some little help from me..is also proceeding in a MS. Grammar for the English acquisition of Armenian, which will be printed also. 1847 E. Riggs (title) A vocabulary of words used in modern Armenian. 1910 Encycl. Brit. II. 571/2 Armenian lost its genders long before the year a.d. 400. |