Gallicism
Americannoun
-
a French idiom or expression used in another language, as Je ne sais quoi when used in English.
-
a feature that is characteristic of or peculiar to the French language.
-
a custom or trait considered to be characteristically French.
noun
Etymology
Origin of Gallicism
First recorded in 1650–60; from French gallicisme; see Gallic, -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.
The misery consequent on the great wars, and the powerful reaction against Gallicism throughout Germany, once more caused despised religion to be reverenced in the age of philosophy.
From Germany from the Earliest Period Volume 4 by Mrs. George Horrocks
It is a Gallicism, but all the better, where one desires to be imperative, and yet vague.
From Sir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I. by Charles James Lever
He was a tall, black-haired, mercurial Frenchman, with an eye like a falcon, who, with only an occasional Gallicism purposely indulged in, spoke American like a native.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 04, No. 25, November, 1859 by Various
After the death of Holberg, the affectation of Gallicism had reappeared in Denmark; and the tragedies of Voltaire, with their stilted rhetoric, were the most popular dramas of the day.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various
"Another forfeit for a Gallicism," said a Russian writer who was present.
From War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Count
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
