Oscan
Americannoun
-
one of an ancient people of south-central Italy.
-
the Indo-European, probably Italic, language of the Oscans, written in an alphabet derived from the Etruscan.
adjective
noun
-
an extinct language of ancient S Italy belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European family See also Osco-Umbrian
-
a speaker of this language; Samnite
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Oscan
1590–1600; Latin Osc(ī) the Oscans + -an
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.
The Umbrian and Oscan dialects retained the s throughout as the sign of the genitive after nouns in a.
From Lectures on The Science of Language by Max Müller
Oscan was still spoken under the Roman emperors, and so were minor local dialects in the south and the north.
From Lectures on The Science of Language by Max Müller
Some writers have even asserted, that the Twelve tables were originally written in the Oscan dialect.
From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by John Dunlop
He bore witness to his nationality in the saying quoted by Gellius2 that 'in the possession of the Greek, Oscan, and Latin speech, he possessed three hearts.'
From The Roman Poets of the Republic by W. Y. Sellar
So that his Carmen Saliare probably approaches nearer to the Tuscan and Oscan dialects, than the Latin language did, even at that early period of the monarchy.
From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by John Dunlop
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