What does "anthology" mean?
A collection of literary works, such as poems or short stories, especially a collection from various authors.
Anthology
/ænˈθɑləd͡ʒi/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A collection of literary works, such as poems or short stories, especially a collection from various authors.
- Grammar: anthology is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: album, ana, analecta, analects.
- Usage evidence: I like both plays in our anthology very much.
How to use "anthology"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "anthology" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "anthology" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "anthology" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A collection of literary works, such as poems or short stories, especially a collection from various authors.
"Malkin and Stacks, along with Robert Dallek, James McPherson and other contributors to the anthology (edited by Robert Cowley) take such questions as the jumping-off points for exercises in counterfactuality, the historian's term for speculation about how the past might have unfolded if a particular event had happened otherwise."
- 2 a collection of selected literary passages wordnet
- 3 A work or series containing various stories with no direct relation to one another. attributive
- 4 An assortment of things. broadly
- 5 The study of flowers.
Example
"I like both plays in our anthology very much."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "anthology"?
Common synonyms include: album, ana, analecta, analects, aquarium, beauties.
How do you use "anthology" in a sentence?
I like both plays in our anthology very much.
How do you pronounce "anthology"?
Pronounced /ænˈθɑləd͡ʒi/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀνθολογία (anthología, “flower-gathering”), from ἀνθολογέω (anthologéō, “I gather flowers”), from ἄνθος (ánthos, “flower”) + λέγω (légō, “I gather, pick up, collect”), coined by Meleager of Gadara circa 60 BCE, originally as Στέφανος (στέφανος (stéphanos, “garland”)) to describe a collection of poetry, later retitled anthology – see Greek Anthology. Anthologiai were collections of small Greek poems and epigrams, because in Greek culture the flower symbolized the finer sentiments that only poetry can express. By surface analysis, antho- + -logy.