Cimmerian

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adjective

Cim·​me·​ri·​an sə-ˈmir-ē-ən How to pronounce Cimmerian (audio)
: very dark or gloomy
under ebon shades … in dark Cimmerian desert ever dwellJohn Milton

Cimmerian

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noun

: any of a mythical people described by Homer as dwelling in a remote realm of mist and gloom

Examples of Cimmerian in a Sentence

Adjective a wealthy recluse who lived in Cimmerian isolation in a decaying Victorian mansion
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Morrissey and Bowne teamed up again for 1985’s Mixed Blood, a Cimmerian look at New York street life in which John Leguizamo made his film debut; and 1988’s Spike of Bensonhurst, a comedy about an amateur boxer that relied heavily on Italian and Irish American stereotypes. News Desk, Artforum, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin Cimmerii, a mythical people, from Greek Kimmerioi

First Known Use

Adjective

1580, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1584, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Cimmerian was in 1580

Dictionary Entries Near Cimmerian

Cite this Entry

“Cimmerian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cimmerian. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Cimmerian

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