RELIC
What does "RELIC" mean?
An object surviving from the past, especially one kept for historical or sacred value.
Meanings
- An object or custom surviving from an earlier time. The rotary phone is a charming relic of another era.
- A part of a holy person's body or belongings, kept and venerated after their death. Pilgrims traveled for weeks to see the saint's relic. religious
- Something or someone outdated and out of place in the present. He felt like a relic at the all-digital newsroom. figurative
Word origin
From Latin 'reliquiae' ('remains, remnants'), from 'relinquere' ('to leave behind'), from 're-' plus 'linquere' ('to leave'); entered English via Old French 'relique'.
Remember it
RELIC = what's LEFT (Latin 'relinquere', to leave behind) after time moves on.
A little poem
A bone in glass, a coin worn smooth and blind-
we keep the leftover to keep the whole,
and call the splinter holy for the soul.
tercet
Wordplay
- My grandfather donated his old flip phone to the museum. It's now officially a relic - and it still gets better reception than mine.
What it teaches
We do not save the object; we save the meaning, and let the object hold its place.
Quick facts
What does RELIC mean?
An object surviving from the past, especially one kept for historical or sacred value.
Is RELIC a valid word?
Yes — RELIC is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is RELIC?
RELIC has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does RELIC come from?
From Latin 'reliquiae' ('remains, remnants'), from 'relinquere' ('to leave behind'), from 're-' plus 'linquere' ('to leave'); entered English via Old French 'relique'.
What can RELIC teach us?
We do not save the object; we save the meaning, and let the object hold its place.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.