The anachronism



Example: The film's depiction of medieval knights using smartphones was a clear anachronism.

Definition


"The anachronism" refers to something that is out of its proper time period, especially an object, event, or person that appears in a historical setting where it does not belong. For example, a smartphone shown in a medieval scene is a clear anachronism.

Etymology


The word "anachronism" comes from the Greek roots 'ana-' meaning 'against' or 'backward' and 'chronos' meaning 'time.' It originally referred to something placed in the wrong time period, highlighting a mismatch in chronological order. Did you know this word often appears in history and literature to point out such temporal errors?

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"The anachronism" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - History - (C2) - set 1", containing 212 commonly used words.
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