mediaeval

An archaic spelling of 'medieval', referring to the Middle Ages. This spelling is now largely obsolete in modern English.

• 🇫🇷Orthographe archaïque de « medieval », qui se rapporte au Moyen Âge. Cette écriture est aujourd'hui largement obsolète en anglais moderne.

1. Relating to the Middle Ages B2 formal

   Belonging to or characteristic of the period from about the 5th to the 15th century in European history.

   • The castle has a magnificent mediaeval architecture.
   • She is studying mediaeval literature at university.
   • The town is famous for its well-preserved mediaeval walls.

   🇫🇷Médiéval

   Synonymes: medieval

   Antonymes: contemporarymodern

2. Old-fashioned or unenlightened C1 informal

   Used to describe attitudes or practices that are considered outdated, primitive, or harsh.

   • His views on education are positively mediaeval.
   • The company's mediaeval approach to employee rights was criticized.
   • They live in a mediaeval way, without modern technology.

   🇫🇷Médiéval (au sens figuré)

   Synonymes: antiquatedarchaicbackwardbarbaricbenightedold-fashionedoutdatedoutmodedprimitiveunenlightened

   Antonymes: contemporaryenlightenedmodernprogressive

• more mediaeval comparative form
• most mediaeval superlative form