archaism

[ ahr-kee-iz-uhm, -key- ]

noun

1. something archaic, as a word or expression.
2. the use of what is archaic, as in literature or art:

   The archaism of the novelist's style provided a sense of the period.

3. the survival or presence of something from the past:

   The art of letter writing is becoming an archaism.

archaism

/ ˈɑːkɪˌɪzəm; -keɪ- /

noun

1. the adoption or imitation of something archaic, such as a word or an artistic or literary style
2. an archaic word, expression, style, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈarchaist, noun
• ˌarchaˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• archa·ist noun
• archa·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of archaism¹

1635–45; earlier archaismus < Latin < Greek archaïsmós. See archaize, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of archaism¹

C17: from New Latin archaismus, from Greek arkhaïsmos, from arkhaizein to model one's style upon that of ancient writers; see archaic

Example Sentences

As for the archaism, that is well enough for those who like it.

From Project Gutenberg

The archaism of the English would represent the archaism of the Greek.

From Project Gutenberg

The archaism of their silhouettes strikes us from the first, as much as their isolation in such a place.

From Project Gutenberg

In Latin poetry the epode was cultivated, in conscious archaism, both as a part of the ode and as an independent branch of poetry.

From Project Gutenberg

It is of moment to know with some precision what is the degree of archaism conventionally required in speaking on any given topic.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antique
• antiquity
• artifact
• curio
• evidence
• fragment
• keepsake
• memento
• monument
• remains
• remnant
• souvenir