English edit

Etymology 1 edit

Circa 1425; from Middle English Affrike, Affrique, Affryke, from Latin Āfricus.[1] Compare early Old English Africe (attested only in one translation).

Adjective edit

Afric (comparative more Afric, superlative most Afric)

  1. (poetic, archaic) African.
    • 2008, Toni Morrison, A Mercy, Chatto & Windus, page 109:
      One woman speaks saying I have never seen any human this black. I have says another, this one is as black as others I have seen. She is Afric. Afric and much more, says another.

Noun edit

Afric (plural Africs)

  1. (archaic) An African.
    • 1822, The Saturday Magazine, page 254:
      Two of the largest animals of Africa were much desired by the directors of the museum, viz.: the double horned Rhinoceros, and the Hippopotamus. In search of them he wandered among the Hottentots and the Africs, the latter of whom were at that time much incensed against Europeans, and carried on a ferocious war when opportunities for it offered.

Etymology 2 edit

From Middle English Affrike, Affryk, Affryke, possibly from Middle French Affrique, Affrike,[2] from Latin Āfrica.

Proper noun edit

Afric

  1. (poetic, archaic) Africa.

References edit

  1. ^ Afric, n. and adj.”, in OED Online  [1], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000, archived from the original on 2023-10-20.
  2. ^ Affrīk(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.