n.
Variant: or ath · e · ne · um
Pronunciation: ˌ a-th ə - ' n ē - ə m
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin Athenaeum, a school in ancient Rome for the study of arts, from Greek Ath ē naion, a temple of Athena, from Ath ē n ē
Date: 1799
1 : a building or room in which books, periodicals, and newspapers are kept for use
2 : a literary or scientific association