Saracenic
/ˌsærəˈsiːnɪk/noun
Relating to the Saracens, a historical European term commonly used for Muslim peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.
Did you know?“Saracen” was not a precise ethnic name: medieval Europeans often used it broadly for Muslims, while the word’s deeper origin remains disputed among scholars.
Etymological Timeline
5th Century CE
Greek
Σαρακηνός (Sarakēnos)
“An early Greek form referring to a Saracen people or group; its ultimate origin is uncertain.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Saracenus
“A Latin designation for Saracens, increasingly used in Christian writings for peoples associated with Arabia and the eastern Mediterranean.”
Medieval Period
Old French
Sarrazin
“A term for a Muslim, especially one imagined as belonging to the Islamic world beyond Christian Europe.”
12th–14th Century
Middle English
Saracen
“A Muslim or inhabitant of a Muslim-controlled region, often used broadly and polemically.”
16th–17th Century
English
Saracenic
“An adjective meaning relating to the Saracens, their culture, architecture, or territories.”
Modern English
English
Saracenic
“A historical or descriptive adjective, now uncommon and often treated as an antiquated label.”