Medieval
/ˌmɪdiˈiːvəl/
adjectivenounB2
Definition
Medieval means connected to the Middle Ages, which was a long period in Europe’s history between ancient times and modern times. It often refers to castles, knights, kings, and old traditions from that time. Sometimes, people use medieval to describe something very old or old-fashioned.
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See It in Action
Related to the Middle Ages (about 500-1500 AD in Europe)
- •The medieval castle had thick stone walls and a deep moat.
- •Medieval knights wore armor and fought with swords.
- •Many medieval cities had narrow streets and tall churches.
Old-fashioned or very traditional
- •His ideas about work are medieval and not suitable for today.
- •The tools they used were medieval compared to modern machines.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "medieval" like "old," but it means very old and from a special time in history, not just any old thing.
- ✓Picture a big stone castle with tall towers, knights wearing armor, and people living in villages with horses and carts.
- ✓It’s the feeling of a story about dragons, kings, and knights in shining armor, like fairy tales or movies set long ago.
- ✓Sounds like "mid-E-VAL" → Imagine the middle of a long road (middle ages) where people wear old clothes and live simply.
- ✓Remember famous medieval stories like King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, or castles you see in movies.
- ✓NOT like "ancient" (very, very old times like Egypt or Rome), medieval is the middle time between ancient and modern.
- ✓NOT like "modern" (new and current), medieval is old and from a past historical period.
Try Other Words
- •Historical: related to the past (Use when talking about any time in history, not just the Middle Ages)
- •Ancient: very, very old, before medieval times (Use when talking about times before the Middle Ages)
- •Old-fashioned: not modern, from the past (Use when describing ideas or things that seem out of date)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "medi-" (middle) + "eval" (from Latin "aevum" meaning age or time) → literally "middle age"
- •Etymology: From Latin "medium aevum" meaning "middle age," later shortened to medieval in English
- •Historical development: First used in the 17th century to describe the time between ancient Rome and the modern world
- •Modern usage: Used to describe anything related to the Middle Ages or things that seem very old or traditional
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think life in medieval times was different from life today?
•Can something be called medieval even if it is not from the Middle Ages? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.The medieval castle was built ___ strong stone walls to protect against enemies.
2.Knights in medieval times often wore ___ armor and carried swords.
3.Unlike modern cities, medieval towns had ___ streets and no cars.
4.When someone says an idea is medieval, they mean it is very ___ and not suitable for today.
5.The medieval period is called the "middle ages" because it comes ___ ancient and modern times.
6.Medieval stories often include kings, queens, and ___ fighting for their kingdoms.
7.The tools used in medieval times were ___ compared to the machines we have now.