medieval

What it means

1. Of or relating to the Middle Ages, the period from approximately 500 to 1500 AD.

   The book significantly extends on Rosenstein’s monumental 1990 work, “The Unbroken Chain,” which focused on the genealogies of the major Ashkenazi rabbinic dynasties from medieval times to the present.

   2004 October 24, Bill Gladstone, “The oldest family in the world”, in Jewish Telegraphic Agency

2. Having characteristics associated with the Middle Ages in popular, modern cultural perception:
   1. Archaic.
   2. Brutal.

      Brute force can get you into any apartment if you want to get medieval about it.

      1969 March 24, New York Magazine, page 58

      1 more example

      "Oh, what a nifty idea," Collins said dryly. "Get a bunch of angry brothers with a blowtorch and some pliers and get medieval on his ass."

      2003, Robert Ludlum, The Janson Directive, page 579

In a sentence

The book significantly extends on Rosenstein’s monumental 1990 work, “The Unbroken Chain,” which focused on the genealogies of the major Ashkenazi rabbinic dynasties from medieval times to the present.

2004 October 24, Bill Gladstone, “The oldest family in the world”, in Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Where it comes from

1. Frenchmédiéval“medieval”
2. Englishmedieval

From French médiéval (“medieval”), from Latin medium (“middle”) + aevum (“age”).