Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Mesolithic Age

Mesolithic Age

9.9
The middle part of the Stone Age when people used small stone tools and began to live in one place
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛzəˈlɪθɪk eɪdʒ/
translation icon : Edad mesolítica
  • The Mesolithic Age marked a transition from hunter-gatherer societies to more settled ways of life.

Examples

  • During the Mesolithic Age, humans developed advanced techniques for fishing and hunting small game.

  • Archaeologists have found tools from the Mesolithic Age in various parts of Europe.

  • The Mesolithic Age was fascinating.

  • Wow! The Mesolithic Age is amazing!

  • Archaeologists have found tools from the Mesolithic Age in various parts of Europe.

  • During the Mesolithic Age, humans developed advanced techniques for fishing and hunting small game.

  • The Mesolithic Age marked a transition from hunter-gatherer societies to more settled ways of life.

Synonyms

Mesolithic
vsMesolithic Age
9.9

The middle period of the Stone Age, beginning about 15,000 years ago

is the same meaning but written with an extra word indicating the period
Epipaleolithic
vsMesolithic Age
  • Specialized
9.9

A period of the Stone Age about 15,000 years ago when people began to live more in one place

highlights the same middle era but stresses tool development and long timeframe

How Old

Paleolithic Age
  • Specialized
1 6.7
Mesolithic Age
9.9
Bronze Age
9 3.9
Iron Age
1 4.9

Surface Forms

Mesolithic Age singular
Mesolithic Ages plural

Morphology

Mesolithic + age

This is fully compositional: 'Mesolithic' names the middle phase of the Stone Age and 'age' means a historical period, so together they straightforwardly mean 'the middle period of the Stone Age.' The modifier+noun pattern is a regular, cross-linguistic way to form period names, so a B1 learner who already knows both constituents would be able to derive the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Mesolithic Age gets its name from Greek: meso meaning 'middle' and lithic meaning 'stone'. It was the 'middle part of the Stone Age', between the 'Old Stone Age' and the 'New Stone Age', so the name helps you remember it sits between hunting life and later farming life.