Altaic
the Turkic, Mongolian, and Tungusic language families collectively, spoken over a broad expanse of Eurasia, from southeastern Europe to the Pacific: variously considered to be a single, genetically related family, with Japanese and Korean sometimes also included, or a group of languages with shared typologies and histories, but not genetically akin.
of or belonging to Altaic.
of or relating to the .
Historical Examples
A knowledge of these formulae is possessed by wizards (Finnish noita) corresponding to the Shamans of the Altaic peoples.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 4 Various
Aston, in a pamphlet on the Altaic tongues, cites an instance which is so much to the point that I venture to repeat it here.
The Soul of the Far East Percival Lowell
In the case of the Altaic races which we are considering, cause and effect mutually strengthened each other.
The Soul of the Far East Percival Lowell
noun
a postulated family of languages of Asia and SE Europe, consisting of the Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic branches, and perhaps also Japanese, Korean, and Ainu See also Ural-Altaic
adjective
denoting, belonging to, or relating to this linguistic family or its speakers
1832 as a linguistic family, from French Altaïque, from Altaïen, from Altai, name of a mountain range in Asia.
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