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vandal - 6 dictionary results
van⋅dal
[van-dl] 
–noun
| 1. | (initial capital letter ) a member of a Germanic people who in the 5th century a.d. ravaged Gaul and Spain, settled in Africa, and in a.d. 455 sacked Rome. |
| 2. | a person who willfully or ignorantly destroys or mars something beautiful or valuable. |
–adjective
| 3. | (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Vandals. |
| 4. | imbued with or characterized by vandalism. |
Origin:
1545–55; < LL Vandalus, Latinized tribal name
1545–55; < LL Vandalus, Latinized tribal name
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To vandal
| Van·dal (vān'dl) n.
[Latin Vandalus, Vandal, probably of Germanic origin.] Van·dal'ic (vān-dāl'ĭk) adj. |
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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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Vandal
Van"dal\, n. [L. Vandalus, Vandalius; of Teutonic origin, and probably originally signifying, a wanderer. Cf. Wander.]1. (Anc. Hist.) One of a Teutonic race, formerly dwelling on the south shore of the Baltic, the most barbarous and fierce of the northern nations that plundered Rome in the 5th century, notorious for destroying the monuments of art and literature. 2. Hence, one who willfully destroys or defaces any work of art or literature. The Vandals of our isle, Sworn foes to sense and law. --Cowper.Vandal
Van"dal\, Vandalic \Van*dal"ic\, a. Of or pertaining to the Vandals; resembling the Vandals in barbarism and destructiveness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : vandal
Spanish:
vándalo,
German:
der Vandale,die Vandalin,
Japanese:
公共物破壊者
vandal
1663, "willful destroyer of what is beautiful or venerable," from Vandals, name of Gmc. tribe that sacked Rome, 455, under Genseric, from L. Vandalus (pl. Vandali), from the tribe's name for itself (O.E. Wendlas), from P.Gmc. *Wandal- "Wanderer."
"There does not seem to be in the story of the capture of Rome by the Vandals any justification for the charge of willful and objectless destruction of public buildings which is implied in the word 'vandalism.' It is probable that this charge grew out of the fierce persecution which was carried on by [the Vandal king] Gaiseric and his son against the Catholic Christians, and which is the darkest stain on their characters." ["Encyclopedia Britannica," 13th ed., 1926]Vandalism is attested from 1798, from Fr. vandalisme, first used by Henri Grégoire, Bishop of Blois, c.1793. The verb vandalize is first recorded 1845.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: van·dal
Pronunciation: 'vand-&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Vandal, member of a Germanic tribe who sacked Rome in A.D. 455
: a person who willfully destroys, damages, or defaces property belonging to another or to the public
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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