Abyssinian

The Amharic language.

Adjective

  1. Of or pertaining to Ethiopia or its inhabitants; Ethiopian.
    • Our men are frightened of these Abyssinian women. - 2019, Maaza Mengiste, The Shadow King, Canongate Books (2020), page 335:

    Synonyms: Abassian Abyssin

  2. Of or pertaining to the Abyssinian Church.
    • This king [Fasilides] immediately restored the Abyssinian doctrines, and hunted out the Jesuit missionaries. - 1922, H[erbert] Weld Blundell, “Appendix G. Christianity in Abyssinia.”, in The Royal Chronicle of...
    • The Abyssinian rite has fourteen different eucharistic prayers for use on different liturgical days; […] - 1945 August, Gregory Dix, “Variable Prayers in the Eastern Rites”, in The Shape of the Liturgy, 2nd edition,...
    • Among the documents, according to the chronicler [João de] Barros, was information brought to Lisbon by an Abyssinian priest, one Lucas Marcos, in 1490. - 1952, Henry H[ersch] Hart, “The Ships’ Companies”, in Sea Road...

Origin

From Abyssinia + -n.

Forms

Abissinian

Derived

Abyssinian banana Abyssinian cat Abyssinian fox Abyssinian gold Abyssinian mohr Abyssinianness Abyssinian primrose Abyssinian tea Abyssinian well

Proper noun

  1. The Amharic language.

Forms

Abissinian

Noun

  1. A short-haired domestic cat descended from the cats of ancient Egypt, making it one of the oldest breeds in the world.

    Synonyms: Aby Abyssinian cat

  2. A member of the Abyssinian Church.
  3. A native of Ethiopia.
    • A group of Abyssinians are astride horses in brightly colored saddles at the top of the hill across the valley. - 2019, Maaza Mengiste, The Shadow King, Canongate Books (2020), page 308:

    Synonyms: Abassian Abyssin

Forms

Abyssinians Abissinian

Derived

long-haired Abyssinian