Hisperic style

Hisperic style

▪ Latin writing
      a style of Latin writing that probably originated in the British Isles in the 7th century. It is characterized by extreme obscurity intentionally produced by periphrasis (preference for a longer phrase over a shorter, equally adequate phrase), coinage of new words, and very liberal use of loanwords to express quite ordinary meanings. The style takes its name from the Hisperica famina (“Hisperic Sayings”), a work probably composed in Ireland in the mid-7th century.

      The word is from the Medieval Latin Hispericus (an alteration of Hespericus), “Western” or “Latin,” hence probably meaning (in reference to Latin style) “urbane” or “elegant.”

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hisperic — I. (ˈ)hi|sperik adjective Usage: usually capitalized Etymology: from Hisperica famina, 6th century Latin work written in Ireland in the Hisperic style : belonging to or constituting a style of Latin writing that probably originated in Ireland in… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Hiberno-Latin — Hiberno Latin, also called Hisperic Latin, was a playful and learned sort of Latin literature created and spread by Irish monks during the period from the sixth century to the tenth century. Hiberno Latin was notable for its curiously learned… …   Wikipedia

  • Medieval Latin — Carmina Cantabrigiensia, Medieval Latin manuscript Spoken in Numerous small states Region …   Wikipedia

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