/kar'euh lin"jee euhn/ , adj.
1. of or pertaining 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.
n.
3. a member of the Carolingian dynasty. Abbr.: Carol.
Also, Carlovingian, Carolinian .
[ 1880-85; re-formation of earlier Carlovingian (conformed to ML Carolus Magnus Charlemagne) carlovingien, equiv. to ML Car ( o ) l ( us ) + F -ovingien, extracted from mérovingien MEROVINGIAN ]