Altaic

[ al-tey-ik ]

noun

1. the Turkic, Mongolian, and Tungusic language families collectively, spoken over a broad expanse of Eurasia, from southeastern Europe to the Pacific: variously considered to be a single, genetically related family, with Japanese and Korean sometimes also included, or a group of languages with shared typologies and histories, but not genetically akin.

adjective

1. of or belonging to Altaic.
2. of or relating to the Altai Mountains.

Altaic

/ ælˈteɪɪk /

noun

1. See Ural-Altaic
   a postulated family of languages of Asia and SE Europe, consisting of the Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic branches, and perhaps also Japanese, Korean, and Ainu See also Ural-Altaic

adjective

1. denoting, belonging to, or relating to this linguistic family or its speakers

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altaic¹

First recorded in 1825–35; Alta(i) + -ic

Example Sentences

We may at least suspect that the Slavic vowel is not historically unconnected with its Ural-Altaic parallels.

From Project Gutenberg

In the case of the Altaic races which we are considering, cause and effect mutually strengthened each other.

From Project Gutenberg

Aston, in a pamphlet on the Altaic tongues, cites an instance which is so much to the point that I venture to repeat it here.

From Project Gutenberg

They belong to the Finnish family, and consequently to the Ural-Altaic division of the human race.

From Project Gutenberg

Turkish is the westernmost representative of a great group of languages, best known, perhaps, as the Ural-Altaic family.

From Project Gutenberg