Pompeian

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to the ancient city buried by volcanic ash in Italy in AD 79; characteristic of the style or art associated with that city; pertaining to the culture or history of Pompeii
2. Connected to the Roman town destroyed by Mount Vesuvius; describing artistic or architectural elements resembling those from that historic site; signifying anything linked to Pompeii's archaeological or cultural heritage
3. Pertaining to the classical city famed for its eruption disaster; indicative of the design or motifs found in ruins there; referring to attributes associated with Pompeian civilization and artifacts

Etymology: The town of Pompeii takes its name from the Roman general Pompey, or more precisely, the Latin adjective "Pompeianus" was formed from "Pompeius," the family name of Pompey the Great, whose clan is associated with the place. The English adjective "Pompeian" is therefore a sort of double inheritance: a Roman surname, turned into a place name, and then turned back into an adjective for things belonging to that place. The Latin root "Pompeianus" carries the standard Roman suffix "-ānus," which marked a connection to a person or place, so the sense is simply "of Pompey" or "of Pompeii." English added its own "-ian," a common adjective ending that does the same job, producing a word that describes anything tied to the buried city. Because the town was preserved under volcanic ash from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE, the adjective became especially associated with its frescoes, mosaics and household objects once they were uncovered, and it now applies to any style that imitates them.

Synonyms: Pompeian