athenaeum
or ath·e·ne·um
[ ath-uh-nee-uh m, -ney- ]
/ ˌæθ əˈni əm, -ˈneɪ- /
noun
an institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning.
a library or reading room.
(initial capital letter) a sanctuary of Athena at Athens, built by the Roman emperor Hadrian, and frequented by poets and scholars.
Nearby words
athelia, atheling, athelstan, athematic, athena, athenaeum, athenaeus, athenaeus of attaleia, athenagoras i, athenai, athenian
Origin of athenaeum
1720–30; < Latin < Greek Athḗnaion temple of Athena, where poets read their works
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for athenaeum
British Dictionary definitions for athenaeum (1 of 2)
athenaeum
US atheneum
/ (ˌæθɪˈniːəm) /
noun
an institution for the promotion of learning
a building containing a reading room or library, esp one used by such an institution
Word Origin for athenaeum
C18: from Late Latin, from Greek Athēnaion temple of Athene, frequented by poets and teachers
British Dictionary definitions for athenaeum (2 of 2)
Athenaeum
sometimes US Atheneum
/ (ˌæθɪˈniːəm) /
noun
(in ancient Greece) a building sacred to the goddess Athena, esp the Athenian temple that served as a gathering place for the learned
(in imperial Rome) the academy of learning established near the Forum in about 135 ad by Hadrian
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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