English Explanatory Dictionary

African

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of or pertaining to Africa.
  2. Black; (dated, offensive) synonym of negroid.
noun
  1. A native of Africa; also one ethnologically belonging to an African race.
adj
  1. Alternative letter-case form of African.
noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of African.

Pronunciation

/ˈæf.ɹɪ.kən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-African.wav /ˈæf.ɹə.kən/

Word forms

African more African most African Afrikan Afric Africans

Etymology

Attested as a noun in early New English Aphricane, Africans (plural), Middle English as Affrican, Aufrican and Old English as Africanas (“Africans”) (only plural). From Latin āfricānae, from āfricānus, from Āfricus. The adjective appears in the 16th century, as Affricane, Africane, African. Latin Āfricus is from Āfri (singular Āfer), the name of an ancient people of North Africa (near Carthage, in Tunisia), with the suffix -icus. āfricānus is formed by addition of the -ānus suffix. By surface analysis, Africa + -an.

Synonyms

African Afro- Nubian

Derived words

Affrilachia Affrilachian Afrabian African-American African-American English African American Vernacular English African angelshark African anteater African baobab African barbet African blackwood African broadbill African buffalo African bullfrog African cardamom African cherry orange African civet African crake African crested porcupine African custard apple African dwarf sawshark African elephant African emerald cuckoo Africanesque Africaness Africanfuturism African ginger African glass catfish African golden wolf African golf African harrier-hawk African helmeted turtle African hemp African hobby African hoopoe African horse sickness African hunting dog Africanisation Africanish Africanist Africanistic Africanity Africanization Africanize African jack Africanjujuism African Latin African lethargy African-like Africanlike African Lily African linden African linsang African Lion Dog African Lion Hound African long-tailed shrike African lungfish African mango African marigold African massage
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