relic
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin reliquiae (“remains, relics”), from relinquō (“I leave behind, abandon, relinquish”), from re- + linquō (“I leave, quit, forsake, depart from”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA: /ˈɹɛlɪk/
Noun[edit]
relic (plural relics)
- That which remains; that which is left after loss or decay; a remaining portion.
- Something old kept for sentimental reasons.
- (religion) A part of the body of a saint, or an ancient religious object, kept for veneration.
Usage notes[edit]
By comparison with synonyms, relic emphasizes age, and to some degree value – a “relic of a lost civilization”.
Synonyms[edit]
- (that which remains): remnant, remainder, residue, lave
- (that which is regarded as ancient, rare, or sacred): halidom
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
that which remains
thing kept for sentimental reasons
part of a body or an object of religious significance
External links[edit]
- relic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- relic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- relic at OneLook Dictionary Search
