or CLASSICAL, an epithet applied to ancient Greek and Roman authors of the first rank; and thence to such modern authors as are held in the highest estimation. The 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 classes. The estate of the first class was not to be under L,200, and these by way of eminence were called classici, classics; hence authors of the first rank came to be called classics, while all the rest were said to be infra classem.