imagism

[ im-uh-jiz-uhm ]

nounLiterature.
  1. (often initial capital letter) a theory or practice of a group of poets in England and America between 1909 and 1917 who believed that poetry should employ the language of common speech, create new rhythms, have complete freedom in subject matter, and present a clear, concentrated, and precise image.

  2. a style of poetry that employs free verse and the patterns and rhythms of common speech.

Origin of imagism

1
First recorded in 1910–15; image + -ism

Other words from imagism

  • im·ag·ist, noun, adjective
  • im·ag·is·tic, adjective
  • im·ag·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for imagism

imagism

/ (ˈɪmɪˌdʒɪzəm) /


noun
  1. a poetic movement in England and America between 1912 and 1917, initiated chiefly by Ezra Pound, advocating the use of ordinary speech and the precise presentation of images

Derived forms of imagism

  • imagist, noun, adjective
  • imagistic, adjective
  • imagistically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012