arctic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Relating to the cold region around the North Pole.

   Polar bears live in the Arctic regions.

2. 2
   adj

   Extremely cold.

   We went out into the arctic wind without our coats.

From Middle English artik, artyk (with -c- reintroduced after Latin in the 17th century), from Medieval Latin articus, from Latin arcticus, from Ancient Greek ἀρκτικός (arktikós, “northern, of the (Great) Bear”), from ἄρκτος (árktos, “bear, Ursa Major”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (“bear”). Cognate with Latin ursus.

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