Homerica

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Relating to the ancient Greek poet Homer, or to the epic works traditionally attributed to him
2. Describing the style, subject matter, or tradition of the epics ascribed to the ancient poet Homer
3. Concerning the writings of the legendary Greek bard Homer and the heroic world they portray

Etymology: Ancient Greek writers used "Homerika" to mean "things concerning Homer," and Latin borrowed the idea as "Homerica," a neuter plural that gathered anything connected with the poet, from the Iliad and Odyssey to commentaries and scholarship about them. English took the Latin plural and kept its sense: a "Homerica" is a body of writing about Homer or his works, rather than a single text. The poet's own name is older and less certain. The Greek "Hōmēros" is generally considered pre-Greek or of uncertain origin, and ancient commentators proposed links to words meaning "blind" or "hostage," though modern scholars treat such explanations as guesses. The adjective behind the Latin form, "Homericus," simply means "of Homer," and that is the thread that ties this English noun back to the poet's name.