interpretatio germanica

Etymology

From interpretātiō (“interpretation”) + germānica, feminine form of germānicus (“Germanic”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /in.ter.preˈtaː.ti.oː ɡerˈmaː.ni.ka/, [ɪn̪t̪ɛrprɛˈt̪äːt̪ioː ɡɛrˈmäːnɪkä]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /in.ter.preˈtat.t͡si.o d͡ʒerˈma.ni.ka/, [in̪t̪erpreˈt̪ät̪ː͡s̪io d͡ʒerˈmäːnikä]

Noun

interpretātiō germānica f sg (genitive interpretātiōnis germānicae); third declension

1. (New Latin) The tendency of Germanic peoples to equate foreign deities with members of their own pantheon. Many English names for weekdays are Germanic interpretations: for example, Thursday (Thor's day) is an interpretation of Latin dies Iovis (Jupiter's day).