athenaeum

noun

ath·​e·​nae·​um ˌa-thə-ˈnē-əm 

variants or atheneum

1

: a building or room in which books, periodicals, and newspapers are kept for use

2

: a literary or scientific association

Examples of athenaeum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1833, the term athenaeum was added to reflect the space's interdisciplinary function as not just a library, but also a museum and research center, and in 1875, the nation's first art gallery was added to the space. —Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin Athenaeum, a school in ancient Rome for the study of arts, from Greek Athēnaion, a temple of Athena, from Athēnē

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for athenaeum

• coliseum
• colosseum
• mausoleum
• mycelium
• corneum
• hordeum
• luteum
• lyceum
• museum
• endothelium
• periosteum
• peritoneum