An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

1) Relating or belonging to present and recent time. → modern physics.
2) Of or pertaining to the historical period following the Middle Ages.
3) Of the latest, most advanced kind, or using the most advanced equipment and techniques available.

From M.Fr. moderne, from L.L. modernus, from L. modo "lately, just now," from modo "to the measure," ablative of modus "manner, measure," → mode.

Novin, from now, → new, + -in adj. suffix, as in dirin, pasin, barin, kehin, mehin, behin, zirin, zabarin, pâyin, bâlâyin.

The physics developed since about 1900, which includes Einstein's → relativity theory and → quantum mechanics, as distinguished from → classical physics. Much of modern physics is concerned with the behavior of matter and energy under extreme conditions or on the very small scale.

→ modern; → physics.

1) Modern spirit or character.
2) Modern usage, expression, or trait.
3) In early 20th century art, literature, and architecture, a movement characterized by the use of unconventional subject matter and style, experimental technique, etc.

→ modern + → -ism.

1) An admirer of modern ideas, ways, etc.
2) Someone who practises or advocates → Modernism.

→ modern + → -ist.

1) The quality of being → modern.
2) A rather diffuse term with many meanings depending on the disciplinary context. Generally, modernity refers to the cultural, intellectual, and economic consequences of the → Enlightenment and the epoch with which they are associated. Modernity is the end result of the → modernization process.

→ modern + → -ity.

1) The act of modernizing; the state of being modernized; something modernized.
2) A pattern of social and economic change initiated in the 17th century in Western Europe and subsequently extended to many other parts of the world. Its characteristics include secularization, rationalization in political and economic life, industrialization, urbanization, and increased level of popular involvement in public affairs.

Verbal noun of → modernize; → -tion.

To bring something up to modern standards, or adapt it to modern style, conditions, etc.

→ modern + → -ize.

Any of a number of trends or styles in architecture, philosophy, literature, and art developed in the latter part of the 20th century often in reaction to → modernism. In philosophy, postmodernists claim that value systems are concoctions of human partial knowledge rather than systems reflecting universal objective truth. The most influential early postmodern philosophers include Jean Baudrillard, Jean-François Lyotard, and Jacques Derrida.

The term postmodernism was first coined by architects to designate an architectural response against the earlier Bauhaus style, which was characterized by box-like apartment buildings, the absence of ornamentation and harmony between the function of a building and its design; → post- + → modernism.