Greek

Meanings

Proper Noun

• The language of the Greek people, spoken in Greece, Cyprus and other Greek communities.
• The writing system used in writing the Greek language.

Noun

• An inhabitant, resident, or person of descent from Greece.
• Unintelligible speech or text, such as foreign speech or text, or regarding subjects the listener is not familiar with, such as mathematics or technical jargon; or statements that the listener does not understand or agree with; also, the nonsense placeholder text used in greeking.
• A cunning rogue; a merry fellow.
• Anal sex.
• Greek cuisine; traditional Greek food.
• One of the Greeks, measures of derivative price sensitivity.

Adjective

• Of or relating to Greece, the Greek people, or the Greek language.
• Unintelligible, especially regarding foreign speech or text, or regarding subjects the speaker is not familiar with, such as mathematics or technical jargon.
• Of or pertaining to a fraternity or sorority.

Origin

• From Old English Grēcas, variant of Crēcas, from Proto-West Germanic *krēk, from Latin graecus, of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from the toponym Γραῖα or from other Paleo-Balkanic forms from a tribal name Graii. Greek in any case has the cognate Γραικός, the mythological ancestor of the Graecians (Γραίοι. Germanic cognates include Dutch Griek, German Grieche. The ⟨g⟩ in English and Germanic cognates was restored based on etymology.
• The adjective dates to the Middle English period (14th century), replacing Old English Grēċisċ (as it were “Greekish”) and earlier Middle English Gregeis.