Norman

[ nawr-muhn ]

noun

1. a member of that branch of the Northmen or Scandinavians who in the 10th century conquered Normandy.
2. Also called Norman French. one of the mixed Scandinavian and French people who inhabited Normandy and conquered England in 1066.
3. a native or inhabitant of Normandy.
4. Norman French ( def 1 ).
5. Jes·sye [jes, -ee], 1945–2019, U.S. operatic soprano.
6. a city in central Oklahoma.
7. a male given name.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Normans.
2. noting or pertaining to a variety of Romanesque architecture built by the Normans, especially in England after 1066.

Norman

¹

/ ˈnɔːmən /

noun

1. (in the Middle Ages) a member of the people of Normandy descended from the 10th-century Scandinavian conquerors of the country and the native French
2. a native or inhabitant of Normandy
3. See Norman French
   another name for Norman French

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Normans, esp the Norman kings of England, the Norman people living in England, or their dialect of French
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of Normandy or its inhabitants
3. denoting, relating to, or having the style of Romanesque architecture used in Britain from the Norman Conquest until the 12th century. It is characterized by the rounded arch, the groin vault, massive masonry walls, etc

Norman

²

/ ˈnɔːmən /

noun

1. NormanGreg1955MAustralianSPORT AND GAMES: golfer Greg. born 1955, Australian golfer: winner of the British Open (1986, 1993)
2. NormanJessye1945FUSMUSIC: soprano Jessye (ˈdʒɛsɪ). born 1945, US soprano: noted for her interpretations of Wagner and Mahler

Other Words From

• non-Nor·man noun adjective
• pre-Nor·man adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Norman¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French Normant, from Old Norse Northmathr “Northman”

Example Sentences

The remark comes to mind while reading The Selected Letters of Norman Mailer.

From The Daily Beast

Some, like Norman Mailer, adopted the cooler pose of being casually interested in the possibility.

From The Daily Beast

But while Norman sympathizes with the fear, he does not believe in its validity.

From The Daily Beast

Blood transfusions on the battlefield, pioneered by Canadian doctor Norman Bethune in the Spanish Civil War, saved many lives.

From The Daily Beast

Norman Lear had a crisis while filming All in the Family about people genuinely taking Archie Bunker as a role model.

From The Daily Beast

Norman tarried to put his books into a neat leather case, and Ethel stood thinking.

From Project Gutenberg

"I did not think of that being the meaning of 'when He that bade thee cometh,'" said Norman thoughtfully.

From Project Gutenberg

She fidgeted, till Mr. Ernescliffe asked Norman if there was a table of logarithms in the house.

From Project Gutenberg

Some minutes passed in silence, Norman lying still, excepting a nervous trembling that agitated his whole frame.

From Project Gutenberg

After an interval Norman spoke again, "The carriage turned right over—her head struck on the kerb stone—"

From Project Gutenberg