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Gothicism

American  
[goth-uh-siz-uhm] / ˈgɒθ əˌsɪz əm /

noun

  1. conformity or devotion to the gothic style in the arts.

  2. the principles and techniques of the gothic style.

  3. (sometimes lowercase) barbarism; crudeness.


Gothicism British  
/ ˈɡɒθɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

  1. conformity to, use of, or imitation of the Gothic style, esp in architecture

  2. crudeness of manner or style

"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

Etymology

Origin of Gothicism

First recorded in 1700–10; Gothic ( def. ) + -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.

And, "Gothicism, whatever it is, is not a literary tradition so much as a fairly realistic assessment of modern life."

From Time Magazine Archive

This painting is an admirable example of his early art, before the Gothicism of the early Italian painters became his quest.

From Recollections of Dante Gabriel Rossetti by Caine, Hall, Sir

Accordingly we find, on turning to "The Castle of Otranto," that, just as Walpole's Gothicism was an accidental "sport" from his general virtuosity; so his romanticism was a casual outgrowth of his architectural amusements.

From A History of English Romanticism in the Eighteenth Century by Beers, Henry A. (Henry Augustin)

When the change came, it evinced that same blending of naturalism and Gothicism which defined the incipient romantic movement of the previous century.

From A History of English Romanticism in the Nineteenth Century by Beers, Henry A. (Henry Augustin)

Every sort of lie had arranged to meet in that work: false idealism, false Christianity, false Gothicism, false legend, false gods, false humans.

From Jean-Christophe, Volume I by Cannan, Gilbert

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