the period of human life between youth and old age, sometimes considered as the years between 45 and 65 or thereabout.
Origin of middle age
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400
Middle Ages
plural noun
the time in European history between classical antiquity and the Italian Renaissance (from about 500 a.d. to about 1350): sometimes restricted to the later part of this period (after 1100) and sometimes extended to 1450 or 1500.
Origin of Middle Ages
1715–25; plural of Middle Age, translation of New LatinMedium Aevum
the period of life between youth and old age, usually (in man) considered to occur approximately between the ages of 40 and 60
Middle Ages
nounthe Middle AgesEuropean history
(broadly) the period from the end of classical antiquity (or the deposition of the last W Roman emperor in 476 ad) to the Italian Renaissance (or the fall of Constantinople in 1453)
(narrowly) the period from about 1000 ad to the 15th centuryCompare Dark Ages
"period between ancient and modern times" (formerly roughly 500-1500 C.E., now more usually 1000-1500), attested from 1610s, translating Latin medium aevum (cf. German mittelalter, French moyen âge).
n.
"period between youth and old age," late 14c.; middle-aged (adj.) first recorded c.1600.
The period of European history between ancient and modern times. The Middle Ages began with the Fall of Rome in the fifth century and ended with the Renaissance. The Middle Ages are associated with many beliefs and practices that now seem out of date, such as chivalry, feudalism, the Inquisition, the belief that the sun revolves around the Earth, and a host of popular superstitions. The early Middle Ages are even sometimes called the Dark Ages. The Middle Ages, however, especially in later years, also saw many notable human achievements. Among these were the building of modern nations, such as England and France; increasingly sophisticated and expanded trade; a great advancement of technique in philosophy and theology; some remarkable works of literature (seeThe Canterbury Tales, The Divine Comedy); and the building of magnificent churches (seeChartresandNotre Dame de Paris).
