Carolingian

Ca·ro·lin·gi·an
C3A1R1O1L1I1N1G2I1A1N1
UK/ˌkæ.ɹəˈlɪn.dʒɪ.ən/US/ˌkæɹ.əˈlɪn.dʒi.ən//ˌkɛɹ.əˈlɪn.dʒi.ən/

adjective

Of or pertaining to the Carolings, the members of a Frankish dynasty, descended from Charles Martel, which arose from the Pippinid and Arnulfingian clans in the 7th century and ruled parts of western Europe until the 9th century, reaching its peak under Martel's grandson Charlemagne.

UncommonScrabble 14

Meanings

adjectiveCarolingian (not comparable)

alternative dated misconstruction Carlovingian · alternative rare Carlingian · alternative rare Karlingian · alternative rare Karolingian

  1. not comparableOf or pertaining to the Carolings, the members of a Frankish dynasty, descended from Charles Martel, which arose from the Pippinid and Arnulfingian clans in the 7th century and ruled parts of western Europe until the 9th century, reaching its peak under Martel's grandson Charlemagne.

    And thus the Empire was transferred from the Carolingian Family to the Saxons.

    1697, Samuel von Pufendorf, translated by Jodocus Crull, An Introduction to the History of the Principal Kingdoms and States of Europe, London, page 281
  2. not comparableBeing or relating to a style of minuscule script.
nounCarolingian (plural Carolingians)

plural Carolingians · alternative dated misconstruction Carlovingian · alternative rare Carlingian · alternative rare Karlingian · alternative rare Karolingian

  1. A member of the Carolingian dynasty.
    1 more example

    A certaine Chronicler writ a pretty while agoe, that this King ſhould come of the houſe of France, and the race of Charlemaigne, according to that which was prophecied of him; Some ſay (ſaith he) that there is another common prophecy, that ſome of the Carolingians, that is of the race of King Charles, and bloud royall, ſhall have an Emperour of France, by name Charles, who ſhall bee Prince and Monarch over Europe, and ſhall reforme the Church and State.

    1638, Gerard Langbaine, transl., A Review of the Councell of Trent, Oxford, page 133

    Synonyms: Caroling, Carling, Karling, Karoling

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA member of the Carolingian dynasty.

More synonyms by meaning

nouna member of the Carolingian dynasty

Broader
sovereigncrowned headmonarch
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵerh₂-
  2. Proto-Germanic*karaz
  3. Proto-Germanic*karilaz
  4. Proto-West Germanic*karil
  5. Medieval LatinCarolingī
  6. EnglishCarolingian

From Medieval Latin Carolingī (“Carolings (descendants of Charles Martel)”) [plural of Carolingus, from a Frankish patronymic ultimately composed of Proto-West Germanic *karil + *-ing] + -ian. Reshaping of earlier Carlovingian, from Middle French Carlovingien, itself a misconstruction of Carlingien. By surface analysis, Caroling + -ian.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan carolingi, carolingi
  • carolingiof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • carolingimember of the Carolingian dynasty
  • carolíngiamember of the Carolingian dynasty
Czech karolinský, Karlovec
  • karolinskýof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • Karlovecmember of the Carolingian dynasty
Danish karolingisk, karolinger
  • karolingiskof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • karolingermember of the Carolingian dynasty
Dutch Karolingische
  • Karolingischeof or pertaining to the Carolings
Finnish karolingi
  • karolingimember of the Carolingian dynasty
French carolingien, Carolingien
  • carolingienof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • Carolingienmember of the Carolingian dynasty
  • Carolingemember of the Carolingian dynasty
German karolingisch, Karolinger
  • karolingischof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • Karolingermember of the Carolingian dynasty
Irish Cairilínseach, Cairilínseach
  • Cairilínseachof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • Cairilínseachmember of the Carolingian dynasty
  • Cairilínsighmember of the Carolingian dynasty
Latin Carolingus
  • Carolingusmember of the Carolingian dynasty
Polish karoliński, Karoling
  • karolińskiof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • Karolingmember of the Carolingian dynasty
Portuguese carolíngio, carolíngio
  • carolíngioof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • carolíngiomember of the Carolingian dynasty
Russian каролингский, Каролинг
  • каролингский (karolingskij)of or pertaining to the Carolings
  • Каролингmember of the Carolingian dynasty
Swedish karolingisk
  • karolingiskof or pertaining to the Carolings
Welsh Carolingaidd, Carolingiad
  • Carolingaiddof or pertaining to the Carolings
  • Carolingiadmember of the Carolingian dynasty

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with Carolingian

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

Carolingian. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Carolingian

MLA

“Carolingian.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Carolingian. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Carolingian,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Carolingian.

Source: Carolingian on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.