Oscan

American  

[os-kuhn] / ˈɒs kən /

noun

1. one of an ancient people of south-central Italy.

2. the Indo-European, probably Italic, language of the Oscans, written in an alphabet derived from the Etruscan.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to the Oscans or their language.

Oscan British  

/ ˈɒskən /

noun

1. an extinct language of ancient S Italy belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European family See also Osco-Umbrian

2. a speaker of this language; Samnite

---

adjective

1. of or relating to this language

Other Word Forms

• non-Oscan
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Oscan

1590–1600; Latin Osc(ī) the Oscans + -an

Example Sentences

Very probably of Oscan origin, they began with delineations of the life of small towns, in which dramatic and other satire has never ceased to find a favourite subject.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 6 "Dodwell" to "Drama" by Various

It must be an older form of Greek, much as the Oscan or the Carmen Saliare were of Latin, or even perhaps more so.

From Chips From A German Workshop. Vol. III. Essays on Literature, Biography, and Antiquities by Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)

You will find some very old buildings in it, proclaiming an ancient origin, and Oscan inscriptions recalling the antique language of the country.

From The Wonders of Pompeii by Monnier, Marc

As the Roman language improved, and the provincial tongues of ancient Italy became less known, the Oscan dialect was gradually abandoned.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by Dunlop, John

In addition to collecting Norwegian folk-songs and traditions, and writing on Runic inscriptions, he made considerable contributions to the study of the Celtic, Romance, Oscan, Umbrian and Etruscan languages.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various