barbarous

English

Etymology

From Latin barbarus (“foreigner, savage”), from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (barbaros, “foreign, strange”).

Alternative forms

• (obsolete) barbarouse

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbɑː(ɹ)bəɹəs/

Audio (US)

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Adjective

barbarous (comparative more barbarous, superlative most barbarous)

1. (said of language) Not classical or pure.
2. uncivilized, uncultured
3. Like a barbarian, especially in sound; noisy, dissonant.

   I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs

   By the known rules of antient libertie,

   When strait a barbarous noise environs me

   Of Owles and Cuckoes, Asses, Apes and Doggs - I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs, John Milton (1673)

Derived terms

• barbarously
• barbarousness

Related terms

• barbarian
• barbaric

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• Swahili: shenzi