classic
See also: clàssic
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From French classique, from Latin classicus (“relating to the classes of Roman citizenry, especially the highest”), from classis
Pronunciation
Adjective
classic (comparative more classic, superlative most classic)
- Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
- 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond
- During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]
- (Can we date this quote by Lord Byron and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- Give, as thy last memorial to the age, / One classic drama, and reform the stage.
- 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond
- Exemplary of a particular style; defining a class/category.
- Exhibiting timeless quality.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 20, in The China Governess[1]:
- The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad.
- 2013 January 1, Paul Bartel, Ashli Moore, “Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, pages 47–48:
- Many of these classic methods are still used, with some modern improvements. For example, with the aid of special microphones and automated sound detection software, ornithologists recently reported […] that pine siskins (Spinus pinus) undergo an irregular, nomadic type of nocturnal migration.
- Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, especially to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
- (Can we date this quote by Felicia Hemans and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- Though throned midst Latium's classic plains.
- (Can we date this quote by Felicia Hemans and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- (euphemistic) Traditional; original.
- Users who dislike the new visual layout can return to classic mode.
Derived terms
Translations
of or relating to the first class or rank
exemplary of a particular style
|
exhibiting timeless quality
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of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans
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traditional, original
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Noun
classic (plural classics)
- A perfect and/or early example of a particular style.
- An artistic work of lasting worth, such as a film or song.
- 2001, Jeff Nathanson, Rush Hour 2[2], New Line Cinema:
- JAMES CARTER: The man's destroying a classic!
- The author of such a work.
- (Can we date this quote by Macaulay and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- Raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic.
- (Can we date this quote by Macaulay and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- A major, long-standing sporting event
- (dated) One learned in the literature of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome; a student of classical literature.
Translations
example
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lasting work
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author
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sports event
learned one
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See also
Further reading
- “classic”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “classic”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “classic”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- classical, classic at Google Ngram Viewer
Categories:
- English terms borrowed from French
- English terms derived from French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/æsɪk
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- Requests for date/Lord Byron
- English terms with quotations
- Requests for date/Felicia Hemans
- English euphemisms
- English terms with usage examples
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- Requests for date/Macaulay
- English dated terms