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Eric

proper noun

  1. male given name
L448728 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈɛɹɪk/

name

Etymology: From Middle English Eric, from Old English Eoric, from Old Norse Eirríkr, Eiríkr (from ei (“always, eternal”, see aye) + ríkr (“ruler”)), or from Proto-Germanic *Aizarīkijaz (from *aizō (“honor”) + *rīkijaz (“ruler”)). Less likely from einn (“sole, alone”) + ríkr (“ruler”), from Proto-Germanic *rīks (“king”, cognate to Latin rēx and Gaulish *rīx). The name was in use in Anglo-Saxon Britain, reinforced by Scandinavian settlers before the Norman Conquest. Compare Danish Erik, German Erich. Possible doublet of Euric.

  1. A male given name from the Germanic languages.

    "What's your name?" "Eric - I mean Williams." "Then why don't you say what you mean?"

    Mark it. Professor Roberts does not like the name Eric. This happens to be one of his given names, and it is a very honorable one. Eric was the first Viking explorer of the North American continent, and this ERIC we hope will be an explorer in the fields of complex therapy.

noun

Etymology: From Irish éiric.

  1. A fine paid as compensation for violent crimes.

    The court-poets of Wales […] could demand an eric of ‘nine cows, and nine-score pence of money besides’.