relic

rel·ic

noun \ˈre-lik\

Definition of RELIC

1

a : an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr

b : souvenir, memento

2

plural : remains, corpse

3

: a survivor or remnant left after decay, disintegration, or disappearance

4

: a trace of some past or outmoded practice, custom, or belief

Examples of RELIC

1. <a crude stone ax and other relics of the Neanderthals>
2. <in my grandparents' attic are many “groovy” relics from the 1960s>

Origin of RELIC

Middle English relik, from Anglo-French relike, from Medieval Latin reliquia, from Late Latin reliquiae, plural, remains of a martyr, from Latin, remains, from relinquere to leave behind — more at relinquish

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to RELIC

Synonyms

echo, ghost, vestige, shadow, trace

Related Words

memento, remembrance, reminder; artifact; afterimage, aftertaste; balance, corpse, hangover, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, scrap; dreg(s), leavings, remain(s), residual, residue, rest

Near Antonyms

comer, rising star, up-and-comer

Rhymes with RELIC

melic, telic