Alexandrino is a term with multiple distinct meanings across different languages and fields, including a demonym/adjective, a poetic meter, a given name and surname, a botanical name in Greek, and a reference in classical literature.
1. As a Portuguese Adjective and Noun
In Portuguese, alexandrino (plural: alexandrinos; feminine: alexandrina) functions as both an adjective and a noun meaning "of or relating to Alexandria, Egypt." It also refers to the Alexandrine verse, a poetic meter consisting of twelve syllables (verso alexandrino), which in Portuguese prosody has a mandatory tonic stress on the 6th and 12th syllables. This verse form is also known as Alexandrino Clássico or Alexandrino Francês, named after Alexandre de Bernay, and was widely used in Parnassian poetry.
Related expressions include:
- Arte alexandrina — refined art, partly Greek and partly Egyptian, centered in Alexandria from the 3rd century BC onward.
- Poesia alexandrina — erudite Greek poetry that flourished in Alexandria in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, represented by poets such as Callimachus, Herodas, Lycophron, and Theocritus.
2. As a Given Name and Surname
Alexandrino is a Portuguese and Spanish given name and surname, derived from the Greek name Alexandros (Ἀλέξανδρος), which is composed of alexein (ἀλέξειν, "to defend") and andros (ἀνδρός, "man"). The name thus carries the meaning of "defender of mankind" or "protector of men." It is effectively a diminutive or variant of Alexandre (Alexander). As a surname, it is found primarily in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, including Brazil, Portugal, and parts of Latin America.
3. As the Greek Name for the Poinsettia
In Greek, Alexandrino (Αλεξανδρινό) is the common name for the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), a species of flowering plant in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) native to Mexico and Central America. The plant is known for its striking red, pink, white, or marbled bracts that surround small yellow flowers (cyathia). It has become a global symbol of Christmas due to its winter blooming cycle. In Greece, the plant is cultivated extensively, particularly in family-run nurseries near Thessaloniki, where it is grown for export to Balkan markets. The etymology of the Greek name may evoke Alexander the Great's eastern campaigns or reference the plant's exotic origins, though specific etymological sources remain anecdotal.
4. In Classical Literature: De Bello Alexandrino
De Bello Alexandrino (also Bellum Alexandrinum; "On the Alexandrine War") is a Latin work continuing Julius Caesar's commentaries (De Bello Gallico and De Bello Civili). It details Caesar's campaigns in Alexandria and Asia, dating to approximately 40 BC. Its authorship has been debated since antiquity; possible authors include Aulus Hirtius or Oppius, though modern stylistic analysis suggests the work was compiled from multiple sources by an unknown author.
5. Codex Alexandrinus
The Codex Alexandrinus (designated A or 02 in Gregory-Aland numbering) is a 5th-century manuscript of the Greek Bible written on parchment. It is one of the four great uncial codices, alongside the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, and contains the majority of the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) and the Greek New Testament. It is held at the British Library in London.
