ENGLISH
REFERENCE

egyptian

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ɪˈdʒɪpʃən// egyp·tian Archaic

n. a person from Egypt or the language spoken there in ancient times. You use this word to talk about the people, culture, or history of that country.

n. a native or inhabitant of Egypt, or a person of Egyptian descent. When used in a linguistic context, it refers to the extinct Afroasiatic language of ancient Egypt.


SIMPLE

The Egyptian explained the history of the pyramids to the tourists.

CONTEXTUAL

Many modern Egyptians take great pride in the architectural achievements of their ancestors along the Nile.

COMPLEX

While the Rosetta Stone provided the key to deciphering hieroglyphs, it also revealed the complex relationship between the Egyptian elite and their Greek-speaking rulers.

Origin

From Middle English Egipcien, egyptiane. Displaced Old English Egyptisċ. By surface analysis, Egypt + -ian.

Usage

Capitalised in all contexts as a proper noun.

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