Cyrenian
/saɪˈriːniən/noun
Relating to Cyrene, an ancient Greek city in North Africa, or to its inhabitants.
Did you know?In the New Testament, Simon of Cyrene is identified as the man compelled to carry Jesus’s cross, making “Cyrenian” part of one of Christianity’s most famous scenes.
Etymological Timeline
2nd millennium BCE
Greek
Κυρήνη (Kyrēnē)
“Name associated with the ancient North African city later called Cyrene; the name’s deeper origin is uncertain.”
7th century BCE
Ancient Greek
Κυρήνη (Kyrēnē)
“Cyrene, the Greek colony founded in Libya by settlers from Thera.”
Classical Greek
Greek
Κυρηναῖος (Kyrēnaios)
“A person or thing from Cyrene; Cyrenian.”
Latin antiquity
Latin
Cyrenaeus
“Of or from Cyrene.”
16th century
English
Cyrenian
“Relating to Cyrene or its people; used in English in biblical and historical writing.”
Modern English
English
Cyrenian
“Of, from, or relating to ancient Cyrene.”