Carolingian

[ kar-uh-lin-jee-uhn ]

adjective
  1. of or relating to the Frankish dynasty that reigned in France a.d. 751–987, first under Charlemagne, and in Germany until a.d. 911.

  2. pertaining to or designating the arts, script, or culture of the Carolingian period, chiefly characterized by a revival of the forms of classical antiquity modified by ecclesiastical requirements: Carolingian renaissance.

noun
  1. a member of the Carolingian dynasty. Abbreviation: Carol.

Origin of Carolingian

1
1880–85; re-formation of earlier Carlovingian (conformed to Medieval Latin Carolus Magnus Charlemagne) <French carlovingien, equivalent to Medieval Latin Car(o)l(us) + French -ovingien, extracted from mérovingienMerovingian

Other words from Carolingian

  • post-Car·o·lin·gi·an, adjective
  • pre-Car·o·lin·gi·an, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for Carolingian

Carolingian

/ (ˌkærəˈlɪndʒɪən) /


adjective
  1. of or relating to the Frankish dynasty founded by Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, which ruled in France from 751–987 ad and in Germany until 911 ad

noun
  1. a member of the dynasty of the Carolingian Franks

  • Also called: Carlovingian, Carolinian

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