Cretan

[ kreet-n ]

/ ˈkrit n /

adjective

of or relating to the island of Crete or its inhabitants.

noun

a native or inhabitant of Crete.

Origin of Cretan

< Latin Crētānus. See Crete, -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cretan

In an interesting Cretan sarcophagus from Hagia Triada the life-giving power is tripled.
The Evolution of the Dragon|G. Elliot Smith
The terrible dog had hurled down and was holding under his enormous paws the Cretan archer, who was uttering frightful cries.
The Brass Bell|Eugne Sue
After Nauplia came Argos, where the Cretan refugees were gathered in force.
Julia Ward Howe|Laura E. Richards
In the midst of this arrives the Cretan budget, as before mentioned.
From the Oak to the Olive|Julia Ward Howe

The officer who had charge of us was a Cretan Turk, a kind-hearted but rather diffident man.
A Prisoner in Turkey|John Still

British Dictionary definitions for cretan

Cretan

/ (ˈkriːtən) /

adjective

of or relating to Crete or its inhabitants

noun

a native or inhabitant of Crete

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cretan

Cretan

Old English Cretense (plural), from Latin Cretanus (singular); see Crete. They were proverbial in ancient times as liars; cf. Greek kretismos "lying," literally "Cretan behavior."