Classical meaning of the word

English[edit]

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Etymology[edit]

See classic § Etymology for history; surface analysis, class +‎ -ical = classic +‎ -al

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈklæsɪkl̩/
• Hyphenation: clas‧si‧cal

Adjective[edit]

classical (comparative more classical, superlative most classical)

1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
2. Of or pertaining to established principles in a discipline.

   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page vii:

     Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get; what you get is classical alpha-taxonomy which is, very largely and for sound reasons, in disrepute today.

3. (music) Describing Western music and musicians of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
4. (informal, music) Describing art music (rather than pop, jazz, blues, etc), especially when played using instruments of the orchestra.
5. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, especially to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
   • 1853, Thomas Babington Macaulay, «Atterbury, Francis» in Encyclopædia Britannica (8th ed.). Dated through The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, page 344

     He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college.

6. Knowledgeable or skilled in the classics; versed in the classics.

   a classical scholar

7. Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined

   classical dance.

   • 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume 1, page 151.

     Classical, provincial, and national synods.

8. (physics) Pertaining to models of physical laws that do not take quantum or relativistic effects into account; Newtonian or Maxwellian.

   Antonyms: quantum, relativistic

Usage notes[edit]

Various usage advisers give various prescriptions for differentiating classic from classical by word sense distinctions and by collocational idiomaticness (that is, according to the way in which certain collocations tend to use one suffix more than the other idiomatically). For example (as pointed out by various authorities, including Bryan Garner in Garner’s Modern English Usage, fourth edition), classical tends to be preferred in the sense referring to «the classics» (in ancient literature, modern literature, or music), although classic also sometimes serves in this sense. For copyeditorially inclined users of English, it is useful to know the twin pair of descriptive facts that apply to many usage prescriptions: the prescriptions are not invariably followed in respectable formal writing, but nonetheless it is widely considered preferable style to avoid flouting them.

Synonyms[edit]

• classic (see Usage notes regarding differentiation.)

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

classical (countable and uncountable, plural classicals)

1. (countable) One that is classical in some way; for example, a classical economist.

   • 2002, James E Hartley; James E. Hartley, The Representative Agent in Macroeconomics, Routledge, →ISBN, page 120:

     Similarly, the new classicals never claimed to be Austrians, nor did they ever make the attempt to meet Austrian objections. Therefore, we cannot fault them for not using this methodology. Nevertheless, new classicals constantly preach […]

2. Short for classical music.
3. (chess) Short for classical chess.

   • 2015 November 3, solskytz, “IM Greg Shahade: «Slow Chess should die a fast death»”, in Chess.com‎^[1]:

     When I want to have fun I play blitz. When I want to go deeper and work on improving my game, I play classical and I try to do it in tournament settings.

   • 2022 September 23, Brian Pempus, “Hans Niemann Eliminated, Magnus Carlsen A -350 Betting Favorite To Win Online Chess Event”, in Forbes‎^[2]:

     In early September, Niemann scored an extraordinary win against Carlsen during an in-person tournament in St. Louis, Missouri. Carlsen, the world’s highest-rated player since 2011, lost with the white pieces in the classical time format, a rare occurrence for the chess juggernaut.

Further reading[edit]

• “classical”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• classical at OneLook Dictionary Search
• classical, classic at Google Ngram Viewer

Полезное

In general relativity, mass and energy are treated in a purely classical manner, where ˜classical™ means that physical quantities such as the strengths and directions of various fields and the positions and velocities of particles have definite values. ❋ Weinstein, Steven (2005)

Millions of record sales followed, earning him the title classical music’s best — selling artist. ❋ Unknown (2007)

In the nature of the case, the term classical itself is subject to an element of uncertainty. ❋ Unknown (1874)

From this epoch the term classical can no longer be applied to it, for it no longer retained its purity. ❋ Anne C. Lynch Botta (1853)

Several X5 compilation titles include the word «classical» so they will appear prominently in search results. ❋ Ethan Smith (2011)

We agree on deadbeats, but we disagree that what you call classical feminists seeing abortion as murder, wicked, and an example of oppression. ❋ Unknown (2009)

A gentleman should know those which I call classical works, in every language; such as Boileau, Corneille, Racine, Moliere, etc., in French; ❋ Unknown (2005)

In other words, the great books that were written in the 19th century that comprised what we call classical laissez-faire liberalism; that’s not liberalism in the way we use it politically today. ❋ Unknown (2000)

Yet it was a term classical in Israel and most intelligible to the generation whom Jeremiah was addressing. ❋ George Adam Smith (1899)

The belief thus briefly described was not part of the popular religion of the Greeks, but it was a normal growth of their consciousness, and it is mentioned here as a further indication that even in what we call the classical age there were not wanting traces of the more mystic and spiritual side of religion. ❋ Unknown (1897)

As generally stated, the characteristic point of difference between what we call the classical and the romantic in the art of music lies in the feeling actuating the composer, and consequently embodied more or less successfully in his music. ❋ Unknown (1874)

David had a small collection of what he called classical music, long compositions which he played from the notes. ❋ Jonas Lauritz Idemil Lie (1870)

Hilary that I loved old ballads and such things better than what they call classical music, much of which seems to me like running up and down without any aim or tune to it — and she was giving me a tap with her fan, and saying, — ❋ Emily Sarah Holt (1864)

I am only afraid that he will succeed in forcing me to admit, that what he calls his classical proposition is true; that to clean a house does not require the feat of a Hercules, to wit: turning a river through it. ❋ Unknown (1847)

For the most part, they write as if marxism is reducible to its bad elements or to what they call classical marxism. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Within political socialism, the worst kind for the authors seems to have been what they call classical marxism. ❋ Unknown (2010)

❋ Anonymous (2003)

Dumbass: Yo, u like [Soulja Boy] or 50 cent?
Me: [Beethoven] could kick their asses while [playing the piano], blindfolded. Classical is greater than rap, period. ❋ Mark101 (2008)

Don’t listen to any of the fucked up definitions that state that the [Classical] Period is all [classical music] and that the Romantic Period is considered romantic music. [It’s all] [classical]! ❋ Ohenry (2005)

The user complaining about how «[Classical] is boring. When is the last time you saw [classical music] on MTV or at no.1 in the charts?» is obviously being sarcasic. Because if he/she is not, then they are misguided. Just because it’s popular and people are willing to throw away their money for it, doesn’t make it good. Let’s make a few comparisons between rap and [classical], since thats where this debate is originating from:
1. [Classical music] has withstood the test of time. Rap has only originated in the past 20 years, and already many people don’t know 70%+ rap bands around before todays «artists» (this appears to be the case with you, too). Classical has been around for hundreds of years, and you can still go to your local music store and pick up a classical based album.
2. In your point «Emotional music comes from the heart, not from fucking black [dots] written on a paper with lines.», don’t you think that the people who put those same black dots you’re complaining about on [that paper] where «coming from the heart»? when they wrote it?
3. If you had any knowledge of music or [music theory], you would know that the artists you meantioned all use beats that a four year old uses to play «music». Rhyming and bitching are not hard to do, using complex harmonization, sequencing, and [phrasing] is.
4. You’re a moron, joke or not. You don’t know how to use proper grammer, puntuation, or paragraphs for that matter. You also talk like a pre-pubesent 12 year old desperatly trying to «fit in with the scene» in your town or neighborhood. ❋ Wild_jary (2005)

I, myself, have liked classical for a while. My [graphics] site is classicalgraphics.[tk], I have ClassicalFonts, my screen names have to do with classical…..but [that’s all] another thing. ❋ C.C. (2005)

«[Classical]; [Classic]; Classic great [music].» ❋ LORD HELL FEAR BLOOD (2003)

[Classical music] rules all [the noise] [existing] today. ❋ Valde_Unus (2005)

The only [classical music] that most people have listened to is the [ambient], therapeutically-designed background music at [Barnes & Noble]. ❋ Inbe (2005)

[mozart]: yo biatchhoven dont copy my classical shit, u [dumb shit]!
biatchhoven: but i cant hear anything, i will suck ur cock if u will give me [sonata]
mozart: u won bitchhoven, now suck it bitch ❋ Trance Is Better Than Thisshit (2010)

«24 Capricci Per Violino Solo and [Speed Metal] [Symphony] are fucking awesome.»
«Yeah, [Becker] is the most awesome classical metal guitarist I’ve heard.» ❋ Subhumanrhythm (2007)

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	classical — traditional genre of music conforming to an established form and appealing to critical interest and developed musical taste classical music, serious music chamber music — serious music performed by a small group of musicians opera — a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes cantata, oratorio — a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text concerto — a composition for orchestra and a soloist fugue — a musical form consisting of a theme repeated a fifth above or a fourth below its first statement rondeau, rondo — a musical form that is often the last movement of a sonata sonata — a musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms music genre, musical genre, musical style, genre — an expressive style of music
Adj.	1.	classical — of or relating to the most highly developed stage of an earlier civilisation and its culture; «classic Cinese pottery» classic beaux arts, fine arts — the study and creation of visual works of art nonclassical — not classical
	2.	classical — of recognized authority or excellence; «the definitive work on Greece»; «classical methods of navigation» classic, definitive, authoritative standard — established or well-known or widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence; «a standard reference work»; «the classical argument between free trade and protectionism»
	3.	classical — of or relating to the study of the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome; » a classical scholar»
	4.	classical — (language) having the form used by ancient standard authors; «classical Greek received, standard — conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers; «standard English» (American); «received standard English is sometimes called the King’s English» (British)
	5.	classical — of or pertaining to or characteristic of the ancient Greek and Roman cultures; «classical mythology»; «classical Graeco-Roman, Greco-Roman, Hellenic, classic classical, classic — of or relating to the most highly developed stage of an earlier civilisation and its culture; «classic Cinese pottery»

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

classical

adjective

2. Greek, Roman, Latin, Attic, Grecian, Hellenic, Augustan the healers of ancient Egypt and the classical world see mythology

Quotations
«The great tragedy of the classical languages is to have been born twins» [Geoffrey Madan]
«That’s the classical mind at work, runs fine inside but looks dingy on the surface» [Robert M. Pirsig Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance]

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

classical

adjective

1. Having the nature of, constituting, or serving as a type:

archetypal, archetypic, archetypical, classic, model, paradigmatic, prototypal, prototypic, prototypical, quintessential, representative, typic, typical.

2. Characterized by enduring excellence, appeal, and importance:

The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations