# Merovingian

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˌmɛ.ɹəˈvɪn.dʒɪ.ən/ · frequency rank #91,794

## Definitions
1. Of or relating to the Merovings, the members of a Salian Frankish dynasty, descended from Merovech, that came to rule the Franks in a region (known as Francia in Latin) largely corresponding to ancient Gaul from the middle of the 5th century, and whose politics involved frequent civil warfare among branches of the family.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-West Germanic *mārī
Proto-West Germanic *wīg
Proto-West Germanic *Mārīwīg
Proto-Indo-European *-n̥kʷo-der.?
Proto-Indo-European *-nós
Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos
Proto-Germanic *-īnaz
Proto-Indo-European *-kos
Proto-Germanic *-gaz
?
Proto-Germanic *-ingaz
Proto-West Germanic *-ing
Medieval Latin Merovingī
Proto-Indo-European *-nós
Proto-Italic *-nos
Latin -nus
Latin -ānus
Latin -iānus
Old French -ien
Middle French -ien
Middle French Merovingienbor.
English Merovingian
From Middle French Merovingien (“of or relating to the Merovings, the descendants of Merovech”), from Medieval Latin Merovingī (“Merovings”) [plural of Merovingus, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *Mārīwīg (a male given name composed of *mārī (“famous”) + *wīg (“fight”)) + *-ing] + Middle French -ien. (See Meroving for more.) By surface analysis, Meroving + -ian.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/merovingian