graeca

Graeca is the feminine singular form of the Latin adjective Graecus, meaning Greek. In Latin, adjectives are inflected to agree with the nouns they modify, so Graeca denotes feminine nouns of Greek origin or association. The broader paradigm includes Graecus (masculine) and Graecum (neuter), with plural forms such as Graeci and Graecae, depending on gender and case.

In usage, Graeca appears in phrases describing language, culture, or other Greek-related attributes. Common examples in Latin texts include lingua Graeca (the Greek language) and cultura Graeca (Greek culture). The term functions as a descriptive label rather than a proper nation or people, and it is encountered in classical, medieval, and early modern Latin writings to identify things connected with Greece or Greek traditions.

In scholarly practice, Graeca is also found in titles and descriptions that relate to Greek authors, works, or manuscripts, especially when Latin texts summarize or reference Greek sources. It should be distinguished from related terms such as Graecus (the masculine form) and Graecia (the land of the Greeks, Greece) in Latin usage.

Beyond language and literature, Graeca appears in modern systematic naming when Latin epithets reflect geographic origin. In taxonomy, the epithet graeca may be used with a feminine genus name to indicate a Greek origin or association, illustrating how Latin adjectives adapt to gender in scientific nomenclature.

See also: Graecus, Graecia, Graecae.