contemporary

Definitions

con- ('together, at the same') + tempor ('time') + -ary = 'at the same time.' From this one idea it forks: people who share an era are each other's contemporaries (peers), and things that belong to the current era are contemporary (modern). So the word means both 'same time as each other' and 'same time as now.'

Why It Means This

The trick with contemporary is that 'the same time' can be measured two ways. Measured against another person, your contemporaries are those living in your own era — your peers across history. Measured against the present moment, contemporary means belonging to right now — hence 'contemporary art' is modern art. Both senses come straight from con- ('same') + tempus ('time'); context tells you whether the reference point is another person or the present day.

Common Collocations

• 1.contemporary art当代艺术
• 2.contemporary society当代社会
• 3.contemporary issues当代议题
• 4.contemporary dance现代舞
• 5.a contemporary of……的同时代人

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The gallery specializes in contemporary art from the last decade.

• 2.

  Dickens was a contemporary of many great Victorian writers.

• 3.

  Her music blends traditional folk with a contemporary sound.

• 4.

  The two scientists were contemporaries but never met.

Easily Confused

contemporary vs. modern vs. current: contemporary stresses belonging to the present era (contemporary art); modern contrasts with old-fashioned and can cover a longer recent stretch; current means happening right now (current events). Also note contemporary's second sense — a peer from any era — which the others lack.