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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.

See Examples For:

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

From Time Magazine Archive

The book had been grand, if the Hebraism had been omitted, and the law stated without Gothicism, as ethics, and with that scope for ascension of state which the nature of things requires.

From Representative Men by Ralph Waldo Emerson

At such a moment it was matter for little surprise that ardent young intellects should go back for inspiration to the Gothicism of Giotto and the early painters.

From Recollections of Dante Gabriel Rossetti by Sir Hall Caine

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 Henry A. (Henry Augustin) Beers

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 Henry A. (Henry Augustin) Beers

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