Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
athenaeum. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
athenaeum, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
athenaeum in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
athenaeum you have here. The definition of the word
athenaeum will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
athenaeum, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Latin Athenaeum, from Ancient Greek Ἀθηναῖον (Athēnaîon), from Ἀθήνη (Athḗnē, “Athene”).
Pronunciation
Noun
athenaeum (plural athenaeums or athenaea)
- Alternative form of Athenaeum: a temple primarily dedicated to Athena or her Roman equivalent Minerva.
- An association for the advancement of learning, particularly in science or literature.
1994 June 3, Michael Miner, “Will This Man Save Inland Architect?/A Simple Process”, in Chicago Reader:A panel of architects who might loosely be described as the local athenaeum of their profession are awaiting, anxiously, the next edition of the bimonthly journal that bears their names.
- The reading room or library of such an association; (by extension) any reading room or library.
1921, Christopher Morley, Plum Pudding:And this, too, may have been not unconnected with the gracious influence of the other sex as exhibited in a neighbouring athenaeum; and was accompanied by a gruesome spate of florid lyrics: some (happily) secret, and some exposed with needless hardihood in a college magazine.
- A literary or scientific periodical, especially one similar to the London Athenaeum.
Translations
an association for the advancement of learning
a reading room or library
a literary or scientific periodical
References
- "Athenaeum, n.", in the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press.