mannerism
a habitual or characteristic manner, mode, or way of doing something; distinctive quality or style, as in behavior or speech: He has an annoying mannerism of tapping his fingers while he talks. They copied his literary mannerisms but always lacked his ebullience.
marked or excessive adherence to an unusual or a particular manner, especially if affected: Natural courtesy is a world apart from snobbish mannerism.
(usually initial capital letter) a style in the fine arts developed principally in Europe during the 16th century, chiefly characterized by a complex perspectival system, elongation of forms, strained gestures or poses of figures, and intense, often strident color.
Origin of mannerism
1Other words from mannerism
- man·ner·ist, noun
- man·ner·is·tic, adjective
- man·ner·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb
- non·man·ner·is·tic, adjective
- sem·i·man·ner·is·tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use mannerism in a sentence
It's not just about the wild serpentine forms that Schiavone borrowed from Mannerist painters based further south.
Inasmuch as Cruikshank was a mannerist, he is inimitable except by them who take great pains to vex the critical of mankind.
George Cruikshank | W. H. ChessonNo mannerist made these varied groups and diverse original single figures.
Essays, First Series | Ralph Waldo EmersonEven Henner in his later days has become very much a mannerist, and has done some very bad work.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 1 (of 4) | Richard MutherSubsequently he became a mannerist, and not unfrequently adopted gross or common ideas.
The History of Painting in Italy, Vol. IV (of 6) | Luigi Antonio Lanzi
Somewhat of a mannerist; but excellent in broad comedy, as well as in the sentimental pathetic.
Life of Lord Byron, With His Letters And Journals, Vol. 5 (of 6) | (Lord Byron) George Gordon Byron
British Dictionary definitions for mannerism
/ (ˈmænəˌrɪzəm) /
a distinctive and individual gesture or trait; idiosyncrasy
(often capital) a principally Italian movement in art and architecture between the High Renaissance and Baroque periods (1520–1600) that sought to represent an ideal of beauty rather than natural images of it, using characteristic distortion and exaggeration of human proportions, perspective, etc
adherence to a distinctive or affected manner, esp in art or literature
Derived forms of mannerism
- mannerist, noun
- manneristic or manneristical, adjective
- manneristically, 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
Browse