contemporary

contemporary
This word means "existing, living, or occurring at the same time." It is not a synonym for either present-day or modern unless no other question of time is involved and the inference is "contemporary with now." If the time frame of reference is that of Queen Elizabeth I, then a lecture on contemporary drama would mean plays of Elizabethan times. If the frame of reference is to drama of the present day, the time of Elizabeth II, then contemporary would mean "now." Because contemporary means what it does, it is an error to use it with more (meaning "to a greater degree"). It is impossible for something to be more contemporary; probably what is meant is more modern."An Elizabethan play in modern costume" is clearer in meaning than "an Elizabethan play in contemporary dress."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • Contemporary — may refer to: * Modern era in its generic sense, living, occurring, or existing, at the same time; often also used as a synonym for modern * Contemporary philosophy, Western philosophy from c. 1960 presentIn music: * Contemporary music, post 1945 …   Wikipedia

  • Contemporary — Con*tem po*ra*ry, a. [Pref. con + L. temporarius of belonging to time, tempus time. See {Temporal}, and cf. {Contemporaneous}.] 1. Living, occuring, or existing, at the same time; done in, or belonging to, the same times; contemporaneous. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Contemporary — est une compagnie de disques californienne fondée à la fin des années 1940 par Lester Koenig. Au début des années 50, Contemporary publie les séances dirigées par Howard Rumsey au Lighthouse d Hermosa Beach. Le label va publier les… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Contemporary — Con*tem po*ra*ry, n.; pl. {Contemporaries}. 1. One who lives at the same time with another; as, Petrarch and Chaucer were contemporaries. [1913 Webster] 2. a person of nearly the same age as another. Syn: coeval. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Contemporary R&B — For parent genre, see rhythm and blues. Contemporary R B Stylistic origins Funk – Soul – pop – hip hop – R B Cultural origins Early 1980s North America; New York City, Los Angeles, Montreal, Atlanta …   Wikipedia

  • contemporary — contemporarily, adv. contemporariness, n. /keuhn tem peuh rer ee/, adj., n., pl. contemporaries. adj. 1. existing, occurring, or living at the same time; belonging to the same time: Newton s discovery of the calculus was contemporary with that of …   Universalium

  • Contemporary R&B — Der Titel dieses Artikels ist mehrdeutig. Er ist ein Gattungsbegriff für Musikstile der 1980er , 1990er und 2000er Jahre. Den Begriff Rhythm and Blues, wie er in den 1940er bis 1970er Jahren verwendet wurde, beschreibt der Artikel Rhythm and… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • contemporary — I. adjective Etymology: com + Latin tempor , tempus Date: 1631 1. happening, existing, living, or coming into being during the same period of time 2. a. simultaneous b. marked by characteristics of the present period ; modern, current •… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Contemporary Country (Time-Life Music) — Contemporary Country was a 22 volume series issued by Time Life during the early 1990s, spotlighting country music of the 1970s through early 1990s. Each volume in the series chronicled a specific time period – the early 1970s, the mid 1970s, the …   Wikipedia

  • Contemporary Christian music — Stylistic origins Jesus music, Christian music, pop music, rock music Cultural origins Late 1960s, US Typical instruments Vocals, guitar, drums, bass guitar, keyboards, piano …   Wikipedia

  • Contemporary classical music — Contemporary music redirects here. For other forms of contemporary music, see Popular music. Periods of Western art music Early Medieval   (500–1400) Renaissance (1400–1600) Baroque (1600–1760) Common practice …   Wikipedia

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