Afer
/ˈeɪfər/noun
An archaic English noun meaning a person from Africa, also used in Latin as an adjective meaning African.
Did you know?Afer was famously used as the cognomen of the Roman playwright Terence, Publius Terentius Afer, likely identifying him as African-born or of African origin.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient North Africa
Uncertain
Afer
“An ancient ethnic or geographic name associated with North Africa; its deeper origin is disputed.”
2nd Century BCE
Latin
Afer
“African; from Africa.”
2nd Century BCE
Latin
Publius Terentius Afer
“The name of the Roman playwright Terence, whose cognomen identified him as Afer.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Afer
“An African person or something originating in Africa.”
16th–17th Century
English
Afer
“An archaic noun for an African.”
Modern English
English
Afer
“A rare historical or antiquarian term meaning an African.”