athenaeum

or ath·e·ne·um

[ ath-uh-nee-uhm, -ney- ]

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.

athenaeum

¹

/ ˌæθɪˈniːəm /

noun

1. an institution for the promotion of learning
2. a building containing a reading room or library, esp one used by such an institution

Athenaeum

²

/ ˌæθɪˈniːəm /

noun

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 ad by Hadrian

Word History and Origins

Origin of athenaeum¹

1720–30; < Latin < Greek Athḗnaion temple of Athena, where poets read their works

Word History and Origins

Origin of athenaeum¹

C18: from Late Latin, from Greek Athēnaion temple of Athene, frequented by poets and teachers

Example Sentences

In the 1800s, the Fairbanks brothers moved to town, earning their fortune through the invention and production of the platform scale; they founded a museum, athenaeum and academy, all operating to this day.

From Washington Post

The back of his state-issued S.U.V. is stacked with notebooks filled with ideas and data culled from books and articles and conversations with nearly four hundred experts; it’s a kind of rolling athenaeum.

From The New Yorker

After Todd Bol’s death, the organization requested that “stewards” — Mr. Bol’s term for the guardians and curators of his little athenaeums — tie a silver or white ribbon around the libraries in his honor.

From Washington Post

But Dotty was not at the athenaeum that night.

From The New Yorker

Besides numerous other places of worship, there are a handsome town hall, athenaeum and museum, art gallery and public library, various assembly rooms, and several recreation grounds.

From Project Gutenberg