I. R ˈmädərn, - R -dən or -d ə n; R & - R also ÷ -d(ə)rən adjective
( often -er/-est )
Etymology: Late Latin modernus, from Latin modo, adverb, just now, from abl. of modus measure, manner — more at mete
1.
a. : of, relating to, or characteristic of a period extending from the more or less remote past to the present time
totem poles, therefore, are modern rather than prehistoric — R.W.Murray
the difference between the classic and the modern notion of experience — John Dewey
links ancient and modern in many ways — W.H.Ingrams
modern thought … is a very recent affair, dating back only to the seventeenth century — Josiah Royce
specifically : of or relating to the historical period extending from about A.D. 1500 to the present day — compare ancient , medieval
b. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the present time or the immediate past : contemporary , present-day
bipartisanship in foreign policy is a modern development in American politics — Arthur Krock
instruments available to modern government for the wider extension of wealth and well-being — Barbara Ward
c. : suitable to or expressive of the present time
a modern look
modern furnishings
the second house is even more modern in appearance — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
2. : produced by or embodying the most recent techniques, methods, or ideas : up-to-date
going to include in this addition and in this renovation modern electric wiring and modern plumbing and modern means of keeping the offices cool — F.D.Roosevelt
a very modern and well-graded surface — L.D.Stamp
3. obsolete : commonplace , ordinary , trite
full of wise saws and modern instances — Shakespeare
4. usually capitalized , of a language : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the present or most recent period of development as contrasted with earlier periods — compare middle , old
5. : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a movement or style in the arts marked by a break with traditional especially academic forms and techniques of expression, an emphasis upon experimentation, boldness, and creative originality, and an attempt to deal with modern themes — compare abstract , academic
Synonyms: see new
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a person of modern times
the first modern to state in human terms the principles of democracy — John Dewey
b. : a person alive at present
the hurried modern learns to speed quickly down a page, taking in a sentence or paragraph at a glance — Thomas Munro
the threat of atomic warfare has prompted a mood of hysteria among many moderns — Reinhold Niebuhr
2. : a person with modern ideas, tastes, or attitudes
a complete modern , university educated, and trained as an administrator along European lines — Colin Wills
furniture designed for young moderns
3. : a practitioner of modern art
was making a name for himself as one of the moderns — Shirley A. Grau
turned from his Provençal models except as he continued at times to translate them; he became a modern — Yvor Winters
4. : a style of printing type based on an 18th century design of Giambattista Bodoni and distinguished especially as contrasted with old style by regularity of shape, precise curves, straight hairline serifs, and heavy downstrokes