Iberian

views updated May 29 2018

I·be·ri·an / īˈbi(ə)rēən/ • adj. relating to or denoting Iberia, or the countries of Spain and Portugal.• n. 1. a native of Iberia, esp. in ancient times.2. the extinct Romance language spoken in the Iberian peninsula in late classical times. It forms an intermediate stage between Latin and modern Spanish, Catalan, and Portuguese. Also called Ibero-Romance.3. the extinct Celtic language spoken in the Iberian peninsula in ancient times, known only from a few inscriptions, place names, and references by Latin authors. Also called Celtiberian.

Iberian

views updated May 23 2018

Iberian XVII. f. L. Ibēria, f. Ibēres — Gr. I'bēres Spaniards, also a people of the Caucasus; see -IAN.