archaism
Americannoun
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something archaic, as a word or expression.
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the use of what is archaic, as in literature or art.
The archaism of the novelist's style provided a sense of the period.
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the survival or presence of something from the past.
The art of letter writing is becoming an archaism.
noun
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the adoption or imitation of something archaic, such as a word or an artistic or literary style
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an archaic word, expression, style, etc
Other Word Forms
- archaist noun
- archaistic adjective
Etymology
Origin of archaism
1635–45; earlier archaismus < Latin < Greek archaïsmós. See archaize, -ism
Explanation
An archaism is a word that's so old-fashioned that hardly anyone uses it anymore. Forsooth, you'll encounter many archaisms when you read Shakespeare — or when you go to the local Renaissance Faire. There's a difference between an archaism and a word that's obsolete, or so out of date that no one uses it. Archaisms aren't dead, they're just archaic, a bit outmoded and best suited to literary or philosophical writing. Shakespeare's plays are full of archaisms, and so are most editions of the Bible. If you prefer to call your friends thou and thee instead of you, you're a fan of archaisms.
Vocabulary lists containing archaism
Rhetoric
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Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Advanced
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Reading: Literature - Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For his part Mr. Hopkins has employed the conscious archaism of a folk art style to furnish the quotidian world of a culture mostly erased by the Civil War.
From New York Times • Jan. 16, 2020
You can laugh at the archaism of the dialogue, if you wish, though I happen to like its sturdy lyricism.
From The New Yorker • Feb. 29, 2016
Its hallmark is archaism in theology and ethics, and its reach covers most of the global community of faith.
From Washington Post • Aug. 21, 2015
Two centuries before that Louis XIV, king of France, tried to outlaw it as a feudal archaism.
From Economist • Jun. 11, 2015
She was taken halfway up the Hudson in an excursion steamer fitted out in the archaism of the mad Twenties.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
