Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Treacherous, faithless: Having a tendency to betray; characterized by deceit or disloyalty. This meaning originates from the Roman characterization of their Carthaginian enemies.
   • Of or relating to ancient Carthage: Pertaining to the ancient city-state of Carthage, its people, culture, or language.

2. Noun:

   • The language of ancient Carthage: The dialect of the Phoenician language that was spoken in the ancient city of Carthage.

Examples

• Adjective (meaning: treacherous):

  • His punic behavior cost him all his allies.
  • They accused the negotiator of punic intentions.

• Adjective (meaning: relating to Carthage):

  • The museum has a collection of Punic artifacts.
  • He is an expert on Punic history.

• Noun:

  • Few written records in Punic have survived.
  • The inscription was translated from Punic.

Advanced Usage

• "Punic faith": A proverbial phrase meaning treachery or bad faith, directly from the Roman perspective.
  • The treaty was broken with Punic faith.

Variants and Related Words

• Carthaginian (adj/n): A more general synonym for the historical/cultural sense of .
  • The Carthaginian general Hannibal.

Synonyms

• Perfidious: Deceitful and untrustworthy (for the "treacherous" sense).
• Treacherous: Guilty of or involving betrayal of trust.
• Carthaginian: Of or relating to Carthage (for the historical sense).

Related Phrases

• Carthaginian peace: A peace treaty imposed to be so harsh that it cripples the defeated side, alluding to the outcome of the Punic Wars.
  • The victors demanded a Carthaginian peace.

Adjective

1. tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans
   • Punic faith
   • the perfidious Judas
   • the fiercest and most treacherous of foes
   • treacherous intrigues
2. of or relating to or characteristic of ancient Carthage or its people or their language
   • the Punic Wars
   • Carthaginian peace

Noun

1. the Phoenician dialect of ancient Carthage