Merovingian

[ mer-uh-vin-jee-uhn, -juhn ]

/ ˌmɛr əˈvɪn dʒi ən, -dʒən /

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adjective

of or relating to the Frankish dynasty established by Clovis, which reigned in Gaul and Germany from a.d. 476 to 751.

noun

a member or supporter of the Merovingian dynasty.

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Origin of Merovingian

1685–95; <French mérovingien, equivalent to méroving- (<Medieval Latin <Germanic; compare Old English Merewīowing offspring of Merewig, grandfather of Clovis) + -ien-ian

Words nearby Merovingian

meropia, meroplankton, Merops, meros, -merous, Merovingian, merozoite, Merriam, Merrick, merrier, merry, Merrill

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Merovingian in a sentence

To him we date the first memorable step which Europe took out of the anarchies of the Merovingian age.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume V|John Lord
Society in Europe, in the eleventh century, was nearly as dark and degraded as it was on the fall of the Merovingian dynasty.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume V|John Lord
The house was founded in 649 by St. Wandrille, of Merovingian blood.
How France Built Her Cathedrals|Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
He was the last of the Merovingian line who exercised any actual power.
A History of Germany|Bayard Taylor

This proved one of the chief weaknesses of the Merovingian monarchy.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 8|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Merovingian

Merovingian

/ (ˌmɛrəʊˈvɪndʒɪən) /

adjective

of or relating to a Frankish dynasty founded by Clovis I, which ruled Gaul and W Germany from about 500 to 751 ad

noun

a member or supporter of this dynasty

Word Origin for Merovingian

C17: from French, from Medieval Latin Merovingi offspring of Merovaeus, Latin form of Merowig, traditional founder of the line

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