macaronic

[ mak-uh-ron-ik ]

adjective

1. composed of or characterized by Latin words mixed with vernacular words or non-Latin words given Latin endings.
2. composed of a mixture of languages.
3. mixed; jumbled:

   His bureau drawer was a macaronic hodgepodge of unmatched socks.

noun

1. macaronics, macaronic language.
2. a macaronic verse or other piece of writing.

macaronic

/ ˌmækəˈrɒnɪk /

adjective

1. (of verse) characterized by a mixture of vernacular words jumbled together with Latin words or Latinized words or with words from one or more other foreign languages

noun

1. often plural macaronic verse

Derived Forms

• ˌmacaˈronically, adverb

Other Words From

• maca·roni·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of macaronic¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from New Latin macarōnicus, from dialectal Italian maccarone (from the association of macaroni as peasant food with the vernacular language of peasants) + Latin -icus; macaroni, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of macaronic¹

C17: from New Latin macarōnicus, literally: resembling macaroni (in lack of sophistication); see macaroni

Example Sentences

Folengo in Italy and Arena in France are considered as the macaronic classics.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of the triplets appear to me very poor, and hardly above macaronic Latin.

From Project Gutenberg

Freakish books, like macaronic poetry, written in a medley of languages, are curious.

From Project Gutenberg

Four Italian writers in macaronic verse are known to have lived before the year 1500.

From Project Gutenberg

Such was the man who has justly earned the reputation of being the first of macaronic poets.

From Project Gutenberg