Meanings
punic faith1
- uncountableAlternative letter-case form of Punic faith.
Punic faith2
alternative punic faith · alternative Punic Faith
- archaicuncountableTreachery, deceitfulness, bad faith.
The Carthaginians, in the Roman view, were treacherous fellows. "Punica fides" ("Punic faith") became Latin for double-dealing.
1944 October 9, “Education: International Insults”, in Time, retrieved 06 Aug 20143 more examples
His line of education, as well as his father's tenets in matters of church and state, had taught him a holy horror for Papists, and a devout belief in whatever had been said of the Punic faith of Jesuits.
1824, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 16, in RedgauntletMexico . . . weakened her cause by her own punic faith, instability, military oppression, and political revolutions, giving to the Texans in particular ample justification for their revolt.
1848, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 5, in Jack TierMr. Bright . . . speaks in the following terms, in his address to his constituents, of the Punic faith of the Palmerston-Russell Administration on the question of reform: " . . . The House which was returned at that election has been disloyal to its pledges, and has neglected its first duty."
1865 July 14, “Bright on Parliamentary Reform”, in New York Times, retrieved 06 Aug 2014Synonyms: perfidy, prodition, traitory, betrayal, breach of promise, breach of trust, double-dealing, Judas kiss
Punic Faith3
- uncountableAlternative letter-case form of Punic faith.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounTreachery, deceitfulness, bad faith.
Origin
- Latinfidēs Pūnica
- EnglishPunic faith
Calque of Latin fidēs Pūnica.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French foi punique
- foi puniqueTranslations
Latin fidēs Pūnica
- fidēs PūnicaTranslations
Portuguese fé púnica
- fé púnicaTranslations
Cite this entry
punic faith. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punic%20faith
“punic faith.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punic%20faith. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “punic faith,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punic%20faith.
Source: punic faith on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.