augustan
UK[ɔːˈɡʌstən]US[ɔːˈɡʌstən]
adj
relating to or characteristic of the roman emperor augustus or his reign (27 bc–ad 14), especially its artistic and literary style.
adj
relating to or characteristic of the neoclassical style of english literature in the early 18th century, associated with writers such as addison, swift, and pope.
Morpheme Breakdown
august
an
august
name
an
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word "augustan" is a direct derivation from the latin name 'augustus,' a title bestowed upon gaius octavius, the first roman emperor, which itself originates from the latin verb 'augere,' meaning "to increase" or "to honor." the suffix '-an' is a productive english adjectival suffix of latin origin used to form relational adjectives. originally describing the period and cultural achievements of emperor augustus, the term was later applied by analogy to the 18th-century english literary era, whose writers consciously emulated the perceived classical ideals, order, and refinement of that earlier roman age. this semantic extension illustrates how a historical period's name becomes a stylistic label based on perceived qualities of elegance and authority.
Analysis
Structure: august (name) + an (adjective suffix)
"august" is a latin proper name meaning "venerable, majestic," from the latin title 'augustus' given to the first roman emperor. "an" is an english adjective-forming suffix of latin origin, meaning "pertaining to" or "of the kind of."
Examples
the augustan age of roman literature is renowned for poets like virgil and horace.
pope's poetry is considered a pinnacle of the english augustan style.
the architecture exhibited an augustan grandeur and symmetry.