| 释义 |
Old Prussian, n. and a.
[f. old a. + Prussian a. and n.]
A. n.
a. A member of a medieval people, related to the Lithuanians, who inhabited the shores of the Baltic sea east of the Vistula.
b. The West Baltic language of this people, which ceased to be spoken in the 17th century. See also Baltic A. adj. 2.
B. adj. Of or pertaining to this people or their language.
1872[see Lettic a. (n.)]. 1891[see Baltic a. 2]. 1917Encycl. Relig. & Ethics IX. 487/1 Both the Este and the Old Prussians drank mare's milk and mead. Ibid. 488/1 References to Old Prussian religion occur in Lives of St. Adalbert. 1922[see Balto-]. 1933L. Bloomfield Language i. 13 A similar relation, though less close, was found to exist between the Baltic languages (Lithuanian, Lettish, and Old Prussian) and the Slavic. 1946T. G. Chase Story of Lithuania i. 3 The Old Prussians..were annihilated by the Teutonic Knights. 1951A. Spekke Hist. Latvia vi. 133 Christianus seems to have booked some success among the Old Prussian aristocracy. 1974Encycl. Brit. Micropædia VII. 514/3 Old Prussian preserves many archaic Baltic features that do not occur in the related East Baltic languages. |