medieval

/ˌmediˈiːvl/ (bre, ipa) · [mɪdˈivəl] /ˌmediˈiːvl/ (ame, ipa) · [mɪdˈivəl] /ˌmē-ˈdē-vəl mi-, ˌme-, -dē-ˈē-vəl/ (ame, mw)

medieval — 形容詞

  • medievalpositive
  • more medievalcomparative
  • most medievalsuperlative

1. used for people, places, objects, stories, and events connected with Europe's Mi

1.形容詞C1
釋義

中世紀的

和中世紀時期有關的

used for people, places, objects, stories, and events connected with Europe's Middle Ages, the long period between the ancient world and the Renaissance.

例句

Gita studied medieval church paintings in a library in Prague.

Gita 在布拉格的一間圖書館裡研究中世紀教堂壁畫。

medieval + historical object

Joon wore a heavy cloak for the film's medieval battle scene.

Joon 為了那部電影裡的中世紀戰場場景，穿上了一件厚斗篷。

medieval + scene from the period

同義詞
  • mediaeval

    mainly a British spelling variant of the same word

  • feudal

    narrower; focuses on the social system of lords and land

  • Gothic

    much narrower and mostly used for art and architecture

反義詞

文法句型

medieval + noun

be + medieval

用法筆記

This sense is neutral and historical. It is most natural before nouns such as castle, church, town, art, warfare, and Europe when you are talking about the actual period.

常見錯誤

❌My printer is medieval.
✅My printer is antiquated.
💡'medieval' in this sense is about the historical era, not simply any old machine.

2. used to criticize a modern rule, attitude, tool, or system for seeming absurdly

2.形容詞C1
釋義

老掉牙的

落後到近乎可笑或令人不滿的

used to criticize a modern rule, attitude, tool, or system for seeming absurdly far behind present-day standards.

例句

Felix joked that the office still used a medieval booking system.

Felix 開玩笑說，辦公室居然還在用那套老掉牙的預約系統。

medieval + system as criticism

Tariq refused the medieval rule that women needed a husband's permission.

Tariq 拒絕那條老掉牙的規定，不認同女性還得得到丈夫同意。

medieval + rule or attitude

同義詞
  • antiquated

    more formal and often used for systems, rules, or equipment

  • outdated

    the everyday word for something behind current standards

  • archaic

    stronger and especially common for language, customs, or laws

  • backward

    focuses on social attitudes or development, not historical imagery

反義詞

文法句型

medieval + noun

look/feel/seem + medieval

用法筆記

This figurative sense is strongly disapproving. Distinguish it from sense 1: sense 1 simply places something in history, while sense 2 attacks a present-day practice or object for feeling cruel, ridiculous, or hopelessly outdated.

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother is medieval.
✅My grandmother has medieval views about divorce.
💡the figurative use usually criticizes ideas, rules, or systems rather than a whole person.
❌The castle feels medieval, so I mean it is old-fashioned.
✅The office rule feels medieval.
💡use this sense mainly for present-day things that seem embarrassingly behind the times.

medieval — 名詞