Dragoman (Noun)
Meaning
An interpreter and guide in the Near East; in the Ottoman Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries a translator of European languages for the Turkish and Arab authorities and most dragomans were Greek (many reached high positions in the government).
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The British diplomat relied heavily on his dragoman to navigate the complex web of Ottoman bureaucracy.
- During his travels in the Middle East, the young adventurer hired a local dragoman to serve as his interpreter and guide.
- Many Greek dragomans rose to prominence in the Ottoman Empire, leveraging their linguistic skills to secure influential positions.
- As a skilled dragoman, he was able to facilitate communication between European merchants and Arab traders.
- The dragoman's knowledge of local customs and languages proved invaluable to the European delegation during their negotiations with the Turkish authorities.