What does georgic mean?
Georgic is chiefly an adjective describing things connected with agriculture, farming, or the rural world, especially poetry that takes the cultivation of land as its subject. It also has a rare noun meaning: a didactic poem about agriculture, most famously Virgil's Georgics, which discusses farming, animal husbandry, and rural life in four books. The word often carries a literary or classical association rather than merely naming agricultural activity. A georgic poem may be instructional in form, combining practical information about soil, crops, and livestock with elevated poetic language. The term is used in both British and American English but is most common in literary criticism, classical studies, and the history of poetry. It is especially useful when discussing a work that treats agriculture seriously as its central subject, whether or not that work is formally an instructional poem.
Relating to agriculture, farming, or rural life; especially, describing poetry concerned with agricultural subjects.
"The novel's final chapter is a fine example of georgic writing."
This is the dominant modern use and is chiefly found in literary and historical discussion.
A didactic poem about agriculture and rural life, especially Virgil's Georgics.
"The Georgics celebrates agriculture in four books."
As a common noun, this sense is rare; the title The Georgics is normally capitalized.
The plural is rare in ordinary usage and is chiefly relevant when referring generally to agricultural poems; Virgil's work is normally titled The Georgics.
"The catalogue lists three georgics by early modern writers."
Virgil turned the farm manual into literature: his four-book Georgics made ploughing, planting, and livestock part of the Western canon.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does georgic come from?
Georgic entered English in the early 17th century from Latin georgicus, a term derived from Ancient Greek geōrgikos, “of or pertaining to farming.” The Greek word ultimately comes from geōrgos, “farmer,” formed from elements meaning “earth” and “work.” The name George and related forms such as Georgian and Georgiana also derive from Greek forms based on the same farming-related root.
How georgic is actually used
Georgic is a formal and literary term rather than an everyday word. The adjective is common in phrases such as 'georgic poetry,' while the noun is rare except when referring to Virgil's work, conventionally titled The Georgics.
Easily confused with georgic
Georgic refers to agriculture, farming, or agricultural poetry, whereas geographic refers to places and the characteristics of geographical regions.