GREEK

n. & adj.

--n.

1. a a native or national of modern Greece; a person of Greek descent. b a native or citizen of any of the ancient States of Greece; a member of the Greek people.

2 the Indo-European language of Greece.

--adj. of Greece or its people or language; Hellenic.

Phrases and idioms:

Greek (or Greek Orthodox) Church the national Church of Greece (see also Orthodox Church). Greek cross a cross with four equal arms. Greek fire hist. a combustible composition for igniting enemy ships etc. Greek to me colloq. incomprehensible to me.

Derivatives:

Greekness n.

Etymology: OE Grecas (pl.) f. Gmc f. L Graecus Greek f. Gk Graikoi, the prehistoric name of the Hellenes (in Aristotle)