From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
1. A work of acknowledged excellence and authority, or its author; -- originally used of Greek and Latin works or authors, but now applied to authors and works of a like character in any language.
In is once raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic. --Macaulay.
2. One learned in the literature of Greece and Rome, or a student of classical literature.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Classic \Clas"sic\ (kl[a^]s"s[i^]k), Classical \Clas"sic*al\, adjective [L. classicus relating to the classes of the Roman people, and especially to the frist class; hence, of the first rank, superior, from classis class: cf. F. classique. See {Class}, n.]
1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
Give, as thy last memorial to the age, One classic drama, and reform the stage. --Byron.
Mr. Greaves may justly be reckoned a classical author on this subject [Roman weights and coins]. --Arbuthnot.
2. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, esp. to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
Though throned midst Latium's classic plains. --Mrs. Hemans.
The epithet classical, as applied to ancient authors, is determined less by the purity of their style than by the period at which they wrote. --Brande & C.
He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college. --Macaulay.
3. Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined; as, a classical style.
Classical, provincial, and national synods. --Macaulay.
{Classicals orders}. (Arch.) See under {Order}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
adjective
1: characteristic of the classical artistic and literary traditions
2: adhering to established standards and principles; "a classic proof"
noun
1: a creation of the highest excellence
2: an artist who has created classic works
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
151 Moby Thesaurus words for "classic": French literature, Renaissance literature, ageless, ancient literature, archetypal, archetype, art object, belles lettres, best seller, book, bound book, brainchild, bric-a-brac, capital, champion, classical, classical music, classics, coloring book, composition, concert music, concertino, concerto, concerto grosso, contemporary literature, creation, deathless, definitive, definitive work, design, enduring, epitome, erotic literature, erotica, excellent, exemplar, exemplary, famous, fine, first-rate, folio, folk literature, great work, grotesque, hardback, humane letters, ideal, immortal, juvenile, juvenile book, kitsch, leading, legendary, letters, limp-cover book, literature, longhair music, magnum opus, master, masterpiece, masterwork, medieval literature, mirror, mobile, model, museum piece, national literature, nonbook, notable, notebook, noteworthy, novel, nude, obscene literature, old master, opus, opuscule, opusculum, outstanding, paperback, paradigm, paradigmatic, paragon, pasticcio, pastiche, pattern of perfection, picture book, piece, piece of virtu, playbook, pocket book, polite literature, pop literature, popular literature, pornographic literature, pornography, prayer book, prime, production, prototypal, prototype, prototypical, psalmbook, psalter, pseudonymous literature, publication, quintessence, quintessential, representative, republic of letters, rhapsody, scatological literature, semiclassical music, serial, serious literature, sinfonietta, sketchbook, soft-cover, songbook, stabile, standard, standard work, statue, still life, storybook, study, superior, symphonia, symphonic music, symphonic ode, symphony, time-honored, timeless, title, tome, tone poem, top, top-notch, tour de force, trade book, travel literature, underground literature, undying, venerable, very model, virtu, volume, wisdom literature, work, work of art, writing
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:
classic An adjective used before or after a noun to describe the original version of something. This construction is especially used of product series in which the newer versions are considered worse than the older ones. Examples include "Star Trek Classic" - the original TV series as opposed to the films, ST The Next Generation or any of the other spin-offs and follow-ups; or "PC Classic" - {IBM}'s {ISA}-bus computers as opposed to the {PS/2} series. (1996-10-27)
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