Koine

  1. Proper noun.  The "common" Greek language that developed and flourished between 300 (B.C.E.) and 300 (C.E.) (the time of the Roman Empire), and from which Modern Greek descended. It was based on the Attic and Ionian dialects of Ancient Greek.
  2. Noun.  A lingua franca.
  3. Noun.  A regional language that becomes standard over time.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.