Medievals

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A period in European history typically defined as spanning from the 5th to the late 15th century, often characterized by feudalism and the rise of kingdoms
2. Relating to the Middle Ages, this term encompasses the art, literature, and culture of a time marked by significant social and political changes
3. Describing the historical era following the fall of the Roman Empire, noted for its unique developments in religion, philosophy, and warfare

Etymology: "Medievals" is simply the plural of "medieval," so its history is that of the adjective. The adjective came into English from French "médiéval," which was built from Latin "medium" ("middle") and "aevum" ("age"), giving a literal sense of "middle age" or "middle period." The Latin pairing was a deliberate way of naming the stretch of time between antiquity and the writer's own era. Used as a noun in the plural, "medievals" refers to people of the Middle Ages, a usage that follows naturally from the adjective's sense of belonging to that period.