Hercynian
- denoting a period of mountain building in Europe in the late Palaeozoic
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin Hercynia silva the Hercynian forest (i.e., the wooded mountains of central Germany, esp the Erzgebirge)
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Examples from the Web for hercynian
Historical Examples
Mountains and forests: the Hercynian forest, a general name for the forest mountains, particularly of eastern Germany.
A Manual of Ancient HistoryA. H. L. (Arnold Hermann Ludwig) Heeren
A poetic atmosphere from the Hercynian woods and the monuments of ancient days surrounded our lives.
The breadth of this Hercynian forest which has been referred to above is, to a quick traveler, a journey of nine days.
Beginning at the Hercynian forest are the Catti, a robust and vigorous people, possessed also of much sense292 and ability.
Hercynian, her-sin′i-an, adj. of or pertaining to the forest-covered mountain region of northern Germany—apart the Harz Mountains.
Word Origin and History for hercynian
Hercynian
adj.
1580s, designating the forest-covered mountains of ancient Germany, from Latin Hercynia (silva) "Hercynian (forest)," related to Greek Orkynios drymos, probably from Old Celtic *Perkunya, from PIE *perq(o)- "oak, oak forest, wooded mountain" (see fir).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper