Hellenic, a. (n.)
(hɛˈliːnɪk, -ˈlɛnɪk)
[ad. L. Hellēnicus, a. Gr. Ἑλληνικ-ός: see Hellene and -ic.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to the Hellenes or Greeks, ancient or modern; Greek, Grecian.
| 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 42 So great an injury they then held it to be depriv'd of Hellenick learning. 1835 Thirlwall Greece I. 63 Before the name and dominion of the Pelasgians had given way to that of the Hellenic race. 1879 Farrar St. Paul ii. 30 The glamour of Hellenic grace. 1897 Daily News 22 Feb. 9/1 The Hellenic regular troops round Canea. 1936 A. Thirkell August Folly viii. 240 Everyone had a suggestion to make for spending the gift... Mrs. Tebben thought an Icelandic or Hellenic cruise. 1971 A. Christie Nemesis vii. 76 They had been on an Hellenic cruise last year and a tour of bulbs in Holland the year before. |
2. Typogr. Designating a variety of Greek type.
| 1927 Greek Printing Types (Exhib. B.M.) 3 It is thus only natural that the Graeco-Latin founts should now make way for more directly Hellenic styles of type. Ibid. 21 Thucydides, Funeral Oration of Pericles (part). Printed with 12-point ‘New Hellenic’ type. |
B. n. a. The Greek language. b. pl. Writings on Greek subjects.
| 1847 Landor (title) Hellenics. 1855 (title) Xenophon's Hellenics, or Grecian History. 1870 Anderson Missions Amer. Bd. III. i. 11 They repaired to the Greek College in Scio, for the purpose of studying the Modern Hellenic. |
Hence Heˈllenicize v., to make Greek, to Græcize.
| 1854 Badham Halieut. 467 Resolved..to hellenicize the name. |