medieval

or me·di·ae·val

[ mee-dee-ee-vuhl, med-ee-, mid-ee-, mid-ee-vuhl ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or in the style of the Middle Ages: Compare Middle Ages.

   medieval architecture.

2. Informal. extremely old-fashioned; primitive.

medieval

/ ˌmɛdɪˈiːvəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or in the style of the Middle Ages
2. informal.
   old-fashioned; primitive

medieval

1. A descriptive term for people, objects, events, and institutions of the Middle Ages .

Notes

“Medieval” is sometimes used as a term of disapproval for outdated ideas and customs. It may suggest inhuman practices, such as torture of prisoners. ( See Inquisition .)

Derived Forms

• ˌmediˈevally, adverb

Other Words From

• medi·eval·ly adverb
• anti·medi·eval adjective
• anti·medi·eval·ly adverb
• postme·di·eval adjective
• pseudo·medi·eval adjective
• pseudo·medi·eval·ly adverb
• quasi-medi·eval adjective
• unme·di·eval adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of medieval¹

1820–30; < New Latin medi ( um ) aev ( um ) the middle age + -al ¹. See medium, age

Word History and Origins

Origin of medieval¹

C19: from New Latin medium aevum the middle age. See medium , age

Example Sentences

The best kind of cast iron scrubber also happens to look like it could be part of a medieval suit of armor.

From Popular-Science

For now, the study offers a few small hints about medieval life and suggests that ancient toilets have more to tell us.

From Ars Technica

Eventually, that data will help researchers plumb the depths of medieval microbiomes to understand how the microscopic populations of our intestines have evolved over the centuries.

From Ars Technica

To the artists who embraced it, including Leonardo, Rembrandt, and Vermeer, this fresh approach also established a sharp break from the hard, flat style of medieval art.

From Nautilus

Called folium, this watercolor had been used to paint images on the pages of medieval manuscripts.

From Science News For Students

Even in the medieval era this disparity made Christians uncomfortable.

From The Daily Beast

The folk memory of medieval community life had been wiped out by the industrial revolution.

From The Daily Beast

If a Queen did cheat, her crimes fade into insignificance compared to the extensive philandering engaged in by medieval monarchs.

From The Daily Beast

It is difficult to overstate how destructive the practice of dismembering ancient and medieval books is.

From The Daily Beast

From reports it must once have been a lovely old city with stone houses and a medieval quarter.

From The Daily Beast

In classical and medieval times bridges were constructed of timber or masonry, and later of brick or concrete.

From Project Gutenberg

The medieval importance of these markets and fairs for the sale of wool and wine and later of cloth has gone.

From Project Gutenberg

The Celtic language reappeared; the Celtic art emerged from its shelters in the west to develop in new and medieval fashions.

From Project Gutenberg

Towers of Babel, medieval mythologies, and extensive smearings of that kind, he could find leisure!

From Project Gutenberg

Besides, what he has to say about dentistry occurs in typical medieval form.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antique
• archaic
• feudal
• Gothic
• primitive