the Middle Ages — The period of European history from about 500 AD to 1500 AD, between ancient and modern times
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: The period of European history from about 500 AD to 1500 AD, between ancient and modern times
Pronunciation (IPA): /ðə ˈmɪdəl ˈeɪdʒɪz/
Example Sentences
- If you had bad breath in the Middle Ages, people thought you were possessed by a demon!
- The Middle Ages lasted for about 1,000 years, from the 5th to the 15th century.
- Knights in the Middle Ages had to wear 30kg of armor—no wonder they never went to the gym!
the Middle Ages
NOUN[/ðə ˈmɪdəl ˈeɪdʒɪz/]
The period of European history from about 500 AD to 1500 AD, between ancient and modern times
Knights, castles, and monks copying manuscripts defined life during the Middle Ages.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term 'the Middle Ages' derives from Latin 'medium aevum' (middle age), coined by Renaissance scholars who sought to position their own era as a direct continuation of classical Greek and Roman civilization. The intervening period between antiquity and the Renaissance was dismissively labeled as merely the 'middle time,' implying a culturally barren interregnum between two golden ages.
Breakdown
middle (from Latin medius, 'in the middle') + ages (from Latin aevum, 'age' or 'era'). The compound literally means 'the middle era,' originally used with a pejorative connotation to denote the perceived cultural void separating classical antiquity from the Renaissance.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“If you had bad breath in the Middle Ages, people thought you were possessed by a demon!”
“The Middle Ages lasted for about 1,000 years, from the 5th to the 15th century.”
“Knights in the Middle Ages had to wear 30kg of armor—no wonder they never went to the gym!”
“Many universities in Europe were founded during the Middle Ages.”
“In the Middle Ages, taking a bath once a year was considered 'clean enough'—imagine the smell!”
📚Related Words
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