Khmer

Khmer
/kmair, keuh mair"/, n.
1. a member of a people in Cambodia whose ancestors established an empire about the 5th century A.D. and who reached their zenith during the 9th to the 12th centuries when they dominated most of Indochina.
2. an Austroasiatic language that is the official language of Cambodia.

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I
or Cambodian or Kampuchean

Any member of the ethnolinguistic group that constitutes most of the population of Cambodia.

Smaller numbers of Khmer also live in southeastern Thailand and the Mekong River delta of southern Vietnam. Traditional Khmer are a predominantly agricultural people, subsisting on rice and fish and living in villages. Their crafts include weaving, pottery making, and metalworking. They follow Theravada Buddhism, which coexists with pre-Buddhist animistic beliefs. Indian culture has historically been a strong influence on Khmer culture.
II
(as used in expressions)
Red Khmer
Mon Khmer languages
Cambodian language

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▪ people
also called  Cambodian, or Kampuchean,  

      any member of an ethnolinguistic group that constitutes most of the population of Cambodia. Smaller numbers of Khmer also live in southeastern Thailand and the Mekong River delta of southern Vietnam. The Khmer language belongs to the Mon-Khmer family, itself a part of the Austroasiatic stock. The Khmer have a long history, of which the 12th-century temple complex of Angkor Wat is a monument.

      The Khmer are a predominantly agricultural people, subsisting on rice and fish and living in villages of several hundred persons. Other economic pursuits include weaving, pottery making, and metalworking. Khmer houses have gabled roofs and are constructed of wood or concrete. Households are based on the nuclear family and occasionally include other close relatives.

      The Khmer follow Theravāda Buddhism, of which there are two varieties: the Thammayut and the Mohanikay. These coexist with pre-Buddhist animistic beliefs and the use of magic to ward off malevolent influences. Historically, Khmer arts, literature, and popular scientific ideas have been much influenced by Indian culture, as has much of the vocabulary in which they are expressed.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Khmer — can refer to the: *Khmer people, the ethnic group to which the great majority of Cambodians belong:See also Khmer Krom and Khmer Loeu *Khmer language, the language of the Khmer and the official language of Cambodia *Khmer script, the script used… …   Wikipedia

  • Khmer — I 〈m. 6 oder m.; , 〉 Angehöriger eines Volksstammes in Kambodscha II 〈n.; ; unz.〉 zu den austroasiatischen Sprachen gehörende Sprache der Khmer * * * 1Khmer , der; , : Angehöriger eines Volks in Kambodscha. 2Khmer , das; : Sprache der ↑ 1Khmer.… …   Universal-Lexikon

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  • khmer — KHMER, Ă, khmeri, e, s.m. şi f., adj. 1. s.m. şi f. Persoană care face parte din populaţia de bază a Cambodgiei sau este originară de acolo. 2. adj. Care aparţine Cambodgiei sau populaţiei ei, privitor la Cambodgia sau la populaţia ei. [pr.:… …   Dicționar Român

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  • Khmer — [kə mer′] n. [< the Khmer name] 1. a member of a people of Cambodia that had a highly developed civilization that reached its peak in the 12th cent. 2. the Mon Khmer language of this people, also spoken in NE Thailand and S Vietnam …   English World dictionary

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  • Khmer — Khmer, mongolenähnliches Volk in Kambodscha …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

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