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Iberian

 - 3 dictionary results

I⋅be⋅ri⋅an

[ahy-beer-ee-uhn]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to Iberia in SW Europe, its inhabitants, or their language.
2. of or pertaining to ancient Iberia in the Caucasus or its inhabitants.
–noun
3. one of the ancient inhabitants of Iberia in Europe, from whom the Basques are supposed to be descended.
4. the language of the ancient Iberians of SW Europe, not known to be related to any other language.
5. one of the ancient inhabitants of Iberia in Asia.

Origin:
1595–1605; Iberi(a) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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I·be·ri·an   (ī-bîr'ē-ən)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to ancient Iberia in Transcaucasia or its peoples, languages, or cultures.

    1. Of or relating to the Iberian Peninsula or its modern peoples, languages, or cultures.

    2. Of or relating to the ancient peoples that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula or their languages or cultures.

n.  
  1. A native or inhabitant of ancient Iberia in Transcaucasia.

    1. A native or inhabitant of the Iberian Peninsula.

    2. A member of one of the ancient peoples that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula.

  2. Any of the languages of these peoples.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

Iberian 
1601, from L. Iberia, ancient name of the Spanish peninsula, from Gk. Iberes "Celtic people of Spain;" also the name given to an Asiatic people near the Caucasus. Of unknown origin, but the word as applied in Spain is believed to be related to the River Ebro. The earliest Eng. reference is to the Caucasians; in ref. to Spain and Portugal it dates from 1618.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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