verism

[veer-iz-uhm, ver-]

noun

1. the theory that rigid representation of truth and reality is essential to art and literature, and therefore the ugly and vulgar must be included.

verism

/ ˈvɪərɪzəm /

noun

1. extreme naturalism in art or literature

Other Word Forms

• verist noun
• veristic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of verism¹

1890–95; < Latin vēr ( um ) truth + -ism; verismo

Word History and Origins

Origin of verism¹

C19: from Italian verismo, from vero true, from Latin vērus

Example Sentences

They accused each other of sham writing and sham culture, and hurled at each other's heads the words "idealism" and "materialism," "symbolism" and "verism," "subjectivism" and "objectivism."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• reality 
• truth 
• verisimilitude