late-classical
|late-class-i-cal|
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/ˌleɪtˈklæsɪkəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌleɪtˈklæsɪk(ə)l/
belonging to the later part of the Classical period
Etymology
'late-classical' originates from modern English as a compound of 'late' + 'classical'. 'late' comes from Old English 'lǣt' (later Middle English 'late'), where the sense shifted to 'occurring after the expected time' or 'later'. 'classical' comes from Latin 'classicus' via French 'classique', originally meaning 'belonging to a class' and then 'of the highest rank or exemplary (classical) style'.
'late' developed in English from Old English 'lǣt' and Middle English 'late' to the Modern English adverb/adjective 'late'. 'classicus' passed into Medieval/Modern Latin and Old French as 'classique', then into English as 'classical'. The compound form 'late-classical' is a modern English descriptive compound used in academic and artistic contexts.
Initially the components had separate senses ('late' = 'coming after, delayed'; 'classical' = 'of the classical style or period'). Over time the compound came to be used specifically to indicate 'belonging to the later phase of the Classical period' in fields like history, art, and music.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of the later phase of the Classical period in history, art, literature, or music (the final stage of a classical era).
Scholars often discuss late-classical Athenian sculpture as distinct from earlier classical works.
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Adjective 2
describing a style or work that preserves classical forms but comes from near the end of the classical era (often showing transitional features toward the next period).
The late-classical symphonies show classical balance yet hint at early romantic expressiveness.
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Last updated: 2026/01/03 07:05