medieval

or me·di·ae·val

[ mee-dee-ee-vuh l, med-ee-, mid-ee-, mid-ee-vuh l ]
/ ˌmi diˈi vəl, ˌmɛd i-, ˌmɪd i-, mɪdˈi vəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR medieval ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or in the style of the Middle Ages: medieval architecture. Compare Middle Ages.
Informal. extremely old-fashioned; primitive.

Origin of medieval

1820–30; < New Latin medi(um) aev(um) the middle age + -al1. See medium, age

OTHER WORDS FROM medieval

Words nearby medieval

medick, medico, medico-, medicochirurgical, medicolegal, medieval, medieval breton, medieval cornish, medieval greek, medieval hebrew, medieval latin

Words related to medieval

archaic, antique, primitive, gothic, feudal, antediluvian, antiquated, old, old-fashioned, unenlightened

Example sentences from the Web for medieval

British Dictionary definitions for medieval

medieval

mediaeval

/ (ˌmɛdɪˈiːvəl) /

adjective

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

Derived forms of medieval

medievally or mediaevally, adverb

Word Origin for medieval

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

Cultural definitions for medieval

medieval

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

notes for medieval

“Medieval” is sometimes used as a term of disapproval for outdated ideas and customs.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.)