Complutensian

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Relating to the University of Alcalá de Henares in Spain, or to the scholars and editors associated with it
2. Describing something connected with the historic Spanish university at Alcalá de Henares, especially its learned community and its famous Bible edition
3. Of or belonging to the University of Alcalá, founded in 1499 and known for the Complutensian Polyglot Bible produced there

Etymology: Complutum was the Latin name for the town of Alcalá de Henares, near Madrid, and "Complutensis" meant "of Complutum." The English adjective adds the suffix "-an" to that Latin form, the same ending found in words like "Lutheran" or "Victorian." The result is a name for anything tied to that Spanish town, and in practice to the university its founder established there in 1499. The word's fame comes from that university's great achievement. Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, who founded the university, oversaw the Complutensian Polyglot Bible, a printed edition setting the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin texts side by side, with the Aramaic Targum also included. It was finished around 1517 and was one of the earliest printed polyglot Bibles, so the adjective became attached to that project as well as to the place.