koine
UK /ˈkɔɪneɪ/ · US /kɔɪˈneɪ/ noun, proper noun
Forms koines koinai coene
- noun A linguistic variety that has developed in supraregional contact between speakers of various interrelated dialects, typically in such a way that features shared by several dialects prevail and those of limited distribution are avoided.
- noun A lingua franca.
- proper noun The “common” Greek language that developed and flourished between 300 B.C.E. and 300 C.E. (the time of the Roman Empire), and from which Modern Greek descended. It was based on the Attic and Ionian dialects of Ancient Greek.
Synonyms
interlanguage Hellenistic Greek Hellenistic Koine Koine Greek lingua franca
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek κοινή (koinḗ), feminine form of κοινός (koinós, “common, general”). Doublet of koinon.
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Κοινή (Koinḗ), from ἡ κοινὴ διάλεκτος (hē koinḕ diálektos, “the common dialect”), from κοινός (koinós, “shared, common, public, general, ordinary, usual”). Doublet of koinon.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “koine”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details