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classical definition

clas·si·cal (klas′i kəl)

adjective

  1. classic (senses & )
  2. of the art, literature, and culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans, or their writers, artists, etc.
  3. characteristic of or derived from the literary and artistic standards, principles, and methods of the ancient Greeks and Romans
  4. well versed in or devoted to Greek and Roman culture, literature, etc. a classical scholar
  5. designating or of a specified area or course of study that is or has been standard and traditionally authoritative, not new, recent, and experimental classical political science
    1. of, characteristic of, or like a style of music marked by an emphasis on formal composition, as in instrumental works in the sonata form, by precise standards of performance appropriate to a symphony orchestra, and by a sense of balance, order, clarity, etc.
    2. designating or of the period (c. 1750-c. 1830) characterized by this style
    3. designating or of art music of the European tradition, including such forms as the symphony, the opera, chamber music, the sonata, etc.: distinguished from folk or popular music or jazz

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

classical Synonyms

classical

modif.

  1. Of recognized importance

    standard, established, authoritative, traditional, ideal, flawless, serious, prestigious, esthetic, artistic, longhair*; see also classic.

    Antonyms modern*, popular*, transitory. *

  2. Of or resembling the art or culture of ancient Greece or Rome

    classic, humanistic, Attic, Hellenic, Greek, Homeric, Latin, Roman, Ciceronian, Augustan, Virgilian, academic, correct, formal, classicistic, refined, restrained, balanced, well-proportioned, chaste, archaic, ancient, neoclassic, Hellenistic, Alexandrian; see also ancient 2, chaste 1, Greek, Roman 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

classical Usage Examples

Preposition: through

  • jazz: Music Summary: There is a wide range of activities embracing styles from classical through jazz to rock.

Modifies a noun

  • ballet: Style of interest Classical ballet, Folk, character dance, modern, Jazz.

Modifying Another Word

  • mainly: Mainly classical, also jazz band and music theater.

Infinitive complement

  • pop: Now she has made the jump from classical to pop.

Used with adjective complement

  • include: The areas of study include a wide range of music including classical, world music and popular music.

Preposition: in

  • style: The vocal sections are virtually classical in style, while the chorus comes in with big prog keys and guitars to great effect.
classical usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

classical quotes

Klassisch ist das Gesunde, romantisch das Kranke. The classical period was healthy; the romantic diseased.

-Goethe,JohannWolfgang von

Les temps primitifs sont lyriques, les temps antiques sont e¤  piques, les temps modernes sont dramatiques. The primitive era was lyrical, the classical era was epic and the modern era is dramatic.

-Hugo,Victor Marie

Classical quotations is the parole of literary men all over the world.

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

classical quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"classical." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/classical>

APA Style

classical. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/classical

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