Relating to or characteristic of the Areopagus or its members, especially in terms of wisdom, gravity of judgment, or ancient authority.
From Areopagite + '-ic' suffix. Used from the 16th century onward to describe anything bearing the solemn, authoritative character associated with the ancient Athenian council.
When writers wanted to sound wise and authoritative, they'd use 'areopagitic' to evoke that ancient Greek gravitas—it's basically the scholarly equivalent of a power suit!
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