atticism
noun
the style or idiom of Attic Greek occurring in another dialect or language.
atticism
American
[at-uh-siz-uhm]
/ ˈæt əˌsɪz əm /
noun
(often initial capital letter)
-
the style or idiom of Attic Greek occurring in another dialect or language.
-
attachment to Athens or to the style, customs, etc., of the Athenians.
-
concise and elegant expression, diction, or the like.
Atticism
British
/ ˈætɪˌsɪzəm /
noun
-
the idiom or character of the Attic dialect of Ancient Greek, esp in the Hellenistic period
-
an elegant, simple, and clear expression
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of atticism
First recorded in 1605–15, atticism is from the Greek word Attikismós a siding with Athens, an Attic expression. See Attic, -ism
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.
See Examples For:
These censures can never be just upon a poet, whose style has always been allowed to be perfectly attick, and of an atticism which made him extremely delightful to the lovers of the Athenian taste.
From The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume 05 Miscellaneous Pieces by Samuel Johnson
"It is certain," said Phellion, "that the leading article seems to me to be stamped with vigor joined to an atticism which we may seek in vain in the columns of the other public prints."
From The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honoré de Balzac
But though Atticism may be divided into several kinds, these mimic Athenians suspect but one.
From Cicero's Brutus or History of Famous Orators; also His Orator, or Accomplished Speaker. by E. Jones
But let it also be remembered that Lysias claims the merit of Atticism, not so much for his simplicity and want of ornament, as because he has nothing which is either faulty or impertinent.
From Cicero's Brutus or History of Famous Orators; also His Orator, or Accomplished Speaker. by E. Jones
They imagine that to discourse plainly, and without any ornament, provided it be done correctly, and clearly, is the only genuine Atticism.
From Cicero's Brutus or History of Famous Orators; also His Orator, or Accomplished Speaker. by E. Jones
The first character, then, to be described, is the Orator who, according to some, is the only one that has any just pretensions to Atticism.
From Cicero's Brutus or History of Famous Orators; also His Orator, or Accomplished Speaker. by E. Jones
It seems, moreover, to have been a departure from the primitive temper of Atticism, which tended both to cantonal residence and rural occupation.
From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 01 by John Rudd
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.
