Areopagitica
|A-re-o-pa-gi-ti-ca|
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/ˌæriəpəˈdʒɪtɪkə/
🇬🇧
/ˌærɪəpəˈdʒɪtɪkə/
defense of free expression
Etymology
'Areopagitica' originates from Greek and Latin, specifically the Greek word 'Areopagitikos', where 'Areios' meant 'of Ares' and 'pagos' meant 'rock' or 'hill'.
'Areopagitica' changed from the Greek 'Areopagitikos' and the Latinized form 'Areopagiticus', and was adopted as the title 'Areopagitica' for John Milton's 1644 pamphlet, becoming established in modern English usage.
Initially, it meant 'pertaining to the Areopagus' (the Athenian council or the rock of Ares), but over time it evolved into its current meaning as the title of Milton's pamphlet and, by extension, a symbol of opposition to censorship and a defense of free expression.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a 1644 prose pamphlet by John Milton arguing against pre-publication censorship and the licensing of printed works.
John Milton's Areopagitica is a landmark defense of freedom of the press.
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Noun 2
by extension, a vigorous defense of freedom of expression or an argument opposing censorship; used metaphorically to describe works or speeches that defend free speech.
Her article was praised as a modern Areopagitica for its defense of artistic freedom.
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Last updated: 2026/01/17 06:05