or CLASSICAL, an epithet chiefly applied to authors read in the classes at schools.

This term seems to owe its origin to Tullius Servius, who, in order to make an estimate of every person's estate, divided the Roman people into six bands, which he called classes. The estate of the first class was not to be under 200l. and these by way of eminence were called classici, "classics;" hence authors of the first rank came to be called classics, all the rest being said to be infra classem: thus Aristotle is a classic author in philosophy; Aquinas in school divinity, &c.

CLASSICUM was the alarm for battle, given by the Roman generals, and sounded by trumpets and other martial music throughout the army.