barbaric, a. and n.
(bɑːˈbærɪk)
Forms: 4 barbarik, 5 -yke, 6 -ike.
[a. OF. barbarique (15th c.) of barbarous kind, in Wyclif perh. direct ad. L. barbaric-us, a. Gr. βαρβαρικός like a foreigner, f. βάρβαρος foreign, rude. See barbarous and -ic.]
A. adj.
1. = barbarous 3, barbarian a. 2.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos viii. 36 The peple barbaryke in whom they were subcombed. c 1510 Barclay Mirr. Gd. Mann. (1570) F iij, A barbarike vilayne to play the oratour. 1513 St. Werburge (1848) 198 Barbarike nacions full of crudelite. a 1837 Colebrooke Relig. & Philos. Hindus (1858) 201 Correct language and barbaric dialects. 1855 Prescott Philip II (1857) I. i. i. 2 The barbaric empires of Mexico and Peru. |
2. Pertaining or proper to barbarians or their art; in the characteristic style of barbarians, as opposed to that of civilized countries or ages.
| 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 1 Barbaric Pearl and Gold. 1711 Pope Temp. Fame 94 With diamond flaming, and Barbaric gold. 1813 Scott Trierm. iii. xx, Each maiden's short barbaric vest. 1857 S. Osborn Quedah xvi. 212 Heavy guns, mounted on very barbaric carriages. 1873 Black Pr. Thule xviii. 284 Barbaric splendour of decoration. |
3. = barbarous 1, 2; barbarian a. 1.
| 1849 Grote Greece ii. xlxviii. VI. 167 Sending envoys to the Persian King and not to other barbaric powers. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. iii. vii. 154 An inestimable present to a patrician, or an ex-consul, or a barbaric king. |
† B. n. A barbarian. Obs. rare.
| 1388 Wyclif 1 Cor. xiv. 11 Y schal be to hym, to whom Y schal speke, a barbarik; and he..to me, schal be a barbarik. |
C. Comb., as barbaric-speaking.
| 1849 Grote Greece ii. ii. II. 354 Those many barbaric-speaking nations whom Herodotus believed to have changed their language and passed into Hellens. |