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Merovingian

American  
[mer-uh-vin-jee-uhn, -juhn] / ˌmɛr əˈvɪn dʒi ən, -dʒən /

adjective

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


noun

  1. a member or supporter of the Merovingian dynasty.

Merovingian British  
/ ˌmɛrəʊˈvɪndʒɪən /

adjective

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

"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

noun

  1. a member or supporter of this dynasty

"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

Etymology

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Some were minted in the Byzantine empire, but most were from the Merovingian kingdom, which broadly corresponds to modern day France.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2021

Ultimately, the Carolingian dynasty lasted for an even shorter period than had the Merovingian.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2020

"He created the Merovingian dynasty, which lasted for two centuries. I think this was very intentional, and the Gendry will have a big part in repairing the issue of succession in Westeros."

From Time ● Aug. 15, 2017

In my case I took Merovingian, I'll call it France — back then there was no France but I'll say Merovingian France — around the time before Charlemagne.

From The Verge ● Jun. 29, 2017

Karloman and Pippin, in order to strengthen their cause, sought for a descendant of the Merovingian line, and, having found him, they proclaimed him king, under the name of Childeric III.

From A History of Germany From the Earliest Times to the Present Day by Bayard Taylor

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