Phoenician

[ fi-nish-uhn, -nee-shuhn ]

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Phoenicia.
2. the extinct Semitic language of the Phoenicians.

adjective

1. of or relating to Phoenicia, its people, or their language.
2. noting or pertaining to the script used for the writing of Phoenician from the 11th century b.c. or earlier and from which were derived the Greek, Roman, and all other Western alphabets.

Phoenician

/ fəˈniːʃən; -ˈnɪʃɪən /

noun

1. a member of an ancient Semitic people of NW Syria who dominated the trade of the ancient world in the first millennium bc and founded colonies throughout the Mediterranean
2. the extinct language of this people, belonging to the Canaanitic branch of the Semitic subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic family

adjective

1. of or relating to Phoenicia, the Phoenicians, or their language

Word History and Origins

Origin of Phoenician¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; Phoenicia, -an

Example Sentences

Tanith also was a noted female deity, and was worshipped at Carthage and Cyprus by the Phoenician settlers.

From Project Gutenberg

An exploring fleet was even sent under Phoenician pilots to circumnavigate Africa.

From Project Gutenberg

He had usurped the throne and was the first important Phoenician king after Hiram (see Phoenicia).

From Project Gutenberg

Many English nautical terms at present in use are clearly of Phoenician origin.

From Project Gutenberg

A story is told of a Phoenician vessel running herself on the rocks to prevent the Romans from finding the passage.

From Project Gutenberg