əˈni noun
1.
an institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning.
2.
a library or reading room.
3.
( initial capital letter ) a sanctuary of Athena at Athens, built by the Roman emperor Hadrian, and frequented by poets and scholars.
Also, ath·e·ne·um.
Origin:
1720–30; < Latin < Greek Athḗnaion temple of Athena, where poets read their works
1720–30; < Latin < Greek Athḗnaion temple of Athena, where poets read their works
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To athenaeum
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World English Dictionary
athenaeum or (US) atheneum (ˌæθɪˈniːəm) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | an institution for the promotion of learning |
| 2. | a building containing a reading room or library, esp one used by such an institution |
| [C18: from Late Latin, from Greek Athēnaion temple of Athene, frequented by poets and teachers] | |
| atheneum or (US) atheneum | |
| —n | |
| [C18: from Late Latin, from Greek Athēnaion temple of Athene, frequented by poets and teachers] | |
00:10
Athenaeum
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| Athenaeum or sometimes (US) Atheneum (ˌæθɪˈniːəm) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | (in ancient Greece) a building sacred to the goddess Athena, esp the Athenian temple that served as a gathering place for the learned |
| 2. | (in imperial Rome) the academy of learning established near the Forum in about 135 |
| Atheneum or sometimes (US) Atheneum | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
Athenaeum
1727, from L., from Gk. Athenaion "(the temple of) Athene," in ancient Athens, in which professors taught and actors or poets rehearsed. Meaning "literary club-room or reading room" is from 1799; "literary or scientific club" is from 1864. Athene, Gk. goddess of wisdom, skills, warfare, etc., has a pre-Gk.
name of unknown meaning.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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