medieval

medieval — adjective

1. relating to the period of European history between the 5th and 15th centuries, a

1.形容詞B1
釋義

relating to the period of European history between the 5th and 15th centuries, a time of castles, knights, and feudal society.

例句

The medieval castle on the hill has stood for over eight hundred years.

attributive use before historical nouns

Rania is studying medieval history at university this year.

同義詞
  • mediaeval

    British spelling variant of medieval; identical in meaning

  • feudal

    more specific — refers to the social and political system of the Middle Ages, not the whole period

  • Gothic

    more specific — refers to a style of architecture and art from the later Middle Ages

反義詞

文法句型

medieval + noun

用法筆記

The exact dates of the Middle Ages vary by scholarly tradition — European historians typically use AD 500–1500, though some sources define the period differently. Common collocates include history, art, literature, architecture, and music as academic fields.

常見錯誤

❌Rome was a medieval city.
✅Rome was an ancient city.
💡Medieval refers to the period after the fall of Rome, not to Roman or classical times.
❌Dinosaurs lived in medieval times.
✅Dinosaurs lived in prehistoric times.
💡The Middle Ages began long after the dinosaurs disappeared.

2. so old-fashioned or unwilling to accept modern ideas that it seems to belong to

2.形容詞B2
釋義

so old-fashioned or unwilling to accept modern ideas that it seems to belong to a much earlier and less advanced time.

例句

Amira called the company's dress code medieval and refused to follow it.

figurative pejorative use: describing rules or systems

The hospital still uses paper records — their system feels almost medieval.

同義詞
  • outdated

    less forceful; simply means no longer current or useful

  • antiquated

    similar strength but slightly more formal; emphasizes age rather than backwardness

  • archaic

    often used for language or customs that are no longer in use

反義詞
  • modern

    using the newest ideas, designs, or methods

  • progressive

    supporting new or modern ideas and methods

  • enlightened

    showing sensible and modern understanding of a topic

文法句型

medieval + noun

noun + be + medieval

用法筆記

Strongly pejorative — use only when you intend to criticize something as extremely outdated or backward. More forceful and dramatic than old-fashioned or outdated. Often used in informal complaints about institutions, systems, or rules.

常見錯誤

❌This phone is medieval.' (for any old technology)
✅This phone is really outdated.
💡Medieval is a strong, critical term, not a casual synonym for 'old.'
❌She wore a medieval dress to the party.' (meaning old-fashioned)
✅She wore an old-fashioned dress to the party.
💡Medieval in its figurative sense is pejorative, not a description of vintage style.