classical-style
|clas-sic-al-style|
/ˈklæsɪkəlˌstaɪl/
in the manner of classical tradition
Etymology
'classical-style' is a compound formed from 'classical' (originating from Latin 'classicus', where 'class-' meant 'a class or division') and 'style' (originating from Latin 'stylus' via Old French 'estile'/'style', where 'stylus' meant 'writing implement' and later 'manner of writing').
'classical' entered English from Late Latin 'classicus' (via French influences) and came to mean 'of the highest class' and then 'relating to ancient Greece and Rome'; 'style' came from Latin 'stylus' into Old French 'estile' and Middle English 'stile'/'style', evolving to mean 'manner or mode'. The compound 'classical-style' is a modern English formation combining these two elements to denote a manner modeled on classical precedents.
Initially, the roots referred to 'class/division' ('classical') and a 'writing tool/manner' ('style'); over time these shifted so that 'classical' chiefly evokes antiquity and established artistic conventions, while 'style' denotes manner or design—together now meaning 'in the manner or design of the classical tradition'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a manner or mode characteristic of classical design or tradition (used as a countable noun: 'a classical style').
The architect favored a classical-style that emphasized symmetry and columns.
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Adjective 1
having the characteristics or appearance of the classical period (ancient Greek and Roman) or of classical art, architecture, music, or literature; designed or made in a manner that imitates classical forms.
The museum commissioned a classical-style portico to match the building's neoclassical façade.
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Adjective 2
in the manner of the musical/classical tradition (often used to describe works, arrangements, or performances that follow classical-era conventions).
She gave the piece a classical-style interpretation, emphasizing balance and formality.
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Last updated: 2026/01/03 07:23