classicsn.
/ˈklasɪks/, U.S. /ˈklæsɪks/ With singular or plural agreement. Also with the. The branch of knowledge concerned with the languages and literatures of Greek and Roman antiquity. Also attributive.
ΚΠ
1775 J. Priestley Autobiogr. 84 I had proposed to teach the classics, mathematics, &c. for half-a-guinea per quarter, and to board the pupils in the house with myself for twelve guineas per annum.
1788 R. Polwhele Eng. Orator (ed. 3) I. Argum. A Knowledge of the Classics, the Mathematics, and his own Language requisite.
1815 Times 27 Jan. (advt.) 1/4 Foreign Gentlemen and natives, who wish to..revive their former attainments in the Classics, Mathematics, or other branches of science, 70 guineas.
1840 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 498/2 The candidate for mathematical honours must, in the first instance, ‘pass’ in classics.
1851 C. B. Wheeler Mem. John Lang Bickersteth v. 76 He was first in Classics, first in Mathematics, first in Divinity, and second in Modern Languages.
1887 F. E. Gretton Classical Coincid. Introd. 'Tis sixty years..since I first ventured to teach Classics.
1906 School Rev. 14 400 The humanistics, such as the classics, philosophy, history..and so forth, have great cultural and disciplinary value.
1961 Times 10 Feb. 17/4 At Cambridge..history had become a ‘catch-all’ for students who found classics too difficult and science too serious.
1979 Gourmet Sept. 31/2 Our classics master..announcing with verve, ‘That's it—the Wall.’
2001 Oxoniensia 65 114 The award of an honorary double fourth degree in mathematics and classics..as recognition of his unfulfilled academic abilities.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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