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me·die·val also me·diae·val

(mĭ-dēvəl; mĕd′ē-ēvəl, mē′dē-)

adj.

1. also Medieval

a. Relating or belonging to the Middle Ages.

b. Of or relating to a historical period roughly coinciding with the European Middle Ages and characterized by feudal or aristocratic social structures, as in Japan or China.

a. Suggestive of the Middle Ages, as in being hierarchical or cruel.

b. Informal Old-fashioned; unenlightened: parents with a medieval attitude toward dating.

[From New Latin medium aevum, the middle age : Latin , neuter of medius, middle; see medhyo- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Latin aevum, age; see aiw- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

me′dieval·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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