imagism

American  

[im-uh-jiz-uhm] / ˈɪm əˌdʒɪz əm /

noun

Literature.

1. (often initial capital letter) a theory or practice of a group of poets in England and America between 1909 and 1917 who believed that poetry should employ the language of common speech, create new rhythms, have complete freedom in subject matter, and present a clear, concentrated, and precise image.

2. a style of poetry that employs free verse and the patterns and rhythms of common speech.

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imagism British  

/ ˈɪmɪˌdʒɪzəm /

noun

1. a poetic movement in England and America between 1912 and 1917, initiated chiefly by Ezra Pound, advocating the use of ordinary speech and the precise presentation of images

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Other Word Forms

• imagist noun
• imagistic adjective
• imagistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of imagism

First recorded in 1910–15; image + -ism

Example Sentences

In 1916 when U. S. excitement over free verse, imagism, vorticism, and other strange movements was red hot.

From Time Magazine Archive

There emerged an ascetic calligraphy that, in daring the absurdity of sheer scribble, produced a flowing script that entranced the eye with its imagism.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the U.S. it found one outlet in a literary war for imagism, a simple doctrine requiring poetry to be exact rather than mushy.

From Time Magazine Archive

After Wagner and DeBussy were through with it little remained, save imitation, or " futurism," " imagism," "realism," in a word—unskilled dissonance.

From Time Magazine Archive

As Miss Lowell is the principal exponent of the theories of imagism and free verse in this country, careful reading of some of her critical papers leads to a better understanding of her work.

From Contemporary American Literature Bibliographies and Study Outlines by Manly, John Matthews