Demotic: meaning, definitions and examples

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demotic

 

[ dɪˈmɒtɪk ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

language style

Demotic refers to a form of ancient Egyptian writing derived from northern forms of hieratic used in the Nile Delta. It became the common script in Egypt from the 7th century BCE and continued to be used until the 5th century CE. The term is often associated with something that is popular or colloquial as opposed to an official or literary form.

Synonyms

colloquial, common, popular

Examples of usage

  • The demotic script was used for everyday writing.
  • Many ancient texts were composed in a demotic style.
  • Demotic Egyptian reflects the vernacular of the period.
Context #2 | Noun

writing system

Demotic also refers to the actual writing system derived from hieratic, used in ancient Egypt. It is primarily used by Egyptologists to denote the specific scripts and documents related to this period of Egyptian history.

Synonyms

script, writing

Examples of usage

  • Archaeologists discovered demotic inscriptions on the temple walls.
  • The demotic script is crucial for understanding ancient Egyptian texts.
  • She studied demotic writings to learn more about daily life in ancient Egypt.

Translations

Translations of the word "demotic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 demótico

🇮🇳 लोकप्रिय

🇩🇪 demotisch

🇮🇩 demotik

🇺🇦 демотичний

🇵🇱 demotyczny

🇯🇵 民衆の

🇫🇷 démotique

🇪🇸 demótico

🇹🇷 demotik

🇰🇷 민중의

🇸🇦 ديموطيقي

🇨🇿 demotický

🇸🇰 demotický

🇨🇳 民众的

🇸🇮 demotski

🇮🇸 demótískur

🇰🇿 демотикалық

🇬🇪 დემოტიური

🇦🇿 demotik

🇲🇽 demótico

Word origin

The word 'demotic' comes from the Greek 'demotikos', meaning 'popular'. This term itself derives from 'demos', which means 'the common people'. The adoption of the term reflects the shift in language and writing styles from the more formal, hieratic scripts of ancient Egypt to the everyday language that was accessible to the general populace. The use of demotic writing began around the 7th century BCE during the Late Period of Egypt, serving as a practical means of communication for trade, administration, and literature, as well as documenting the daily lives of Egyptians. The writing style represents a crucial point in the history of Egyptian language evolution, capturing not only the phonetics of spoken Egyptian but also the culture and society of the time.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,593 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.