Gothic

[ goth-ik ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a style of architecture, originating in France in the middle of the 12th century and existing in the western half of Europe through the middle of the 16th century, characterized by the use of the pointed arch and the ribbed vault, by the use of fine woodwork and stonework, by a progressive lightening of structure, and by the use of such features as flying buttresses, ornamental gables, crockets, and foils.
2. pertaining to or designating the style of painting, sculpture, etc., produced between the 13th and 15th centuries, especially in northern Europe, characterized by a tendency toward realism and interest in detail.
3. of or relating to Goths or their language.
4. of or relating to the music, especially of northern Europe, of the period roughly from 1200 to 1450, including that of the Ars Antiqua, Ars Nova, and the Burgundian school.
5. pertaining to the Middle Ages; medieval.
6. (sometimes lowercase) noting or pertaining to a style of literature characterized by a gloomy setting, grotesque, mysterious, or violent events, and an atmosphere of degeneration and decay:

   19th-century Gothic novels.

7. (often lowercase) being of a genre of contemporary fiction typically relating the experiences of an often ingenuous heroine imperiled, as at an old mansion, where she typically becomes involved with a stern or mysterious but attractive man.
8. of or relating to the goth subculture or musical scene.
9. noting or pertaining to the alphabetic script introduced for the writing of Gothic by Ulfilas and derived by him from Greek uncials with the addition of some Latin and some invented letters.
10. (usually lowercase) barbarous or crude.

noun

1. the arts and crafts of the Gothic period.
2. the extinct Germanic language of the Goths, preserved especially in the 4th-century translation by Ulfilas of the Bible. : Goth, Goth.
3. (often lowercase) a story, play, film, or other work in the gothic style.
4. (sometimes lowercase) British. black letter.
5. (sometimes lowercase) a square-cut printing type without serifs or hairlines.

Gothic

/ ˈɡɒθɪk /

adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or resembling the style of architecture that was used in W Europe from the 12th to the 16th centuries, characterized by the lancet arch, the ribbed vault, and the flying buttress See also Gothic Revival
2. of or relating to the style of sculpture, painting, or other arts as practised in W Europe from the 12th to the 16th centuries
3. sometimes not capital of or relating to a literary style characterized by gloom, the grotesque, and the supernatural, popular esp in the late 18th century When used of modern literature, films, etc, sometimes speltGothick
4. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Goths or their language
5. sometimes not capital primitive and barbarous in style, behaviour, etc
6. of or relating to the Middle Ages
7. another word for Goth

noun

1. Gothic architecture or art
2. the extinct language of the ancient Goths, known mainly from fragments of a translation of the Bible made in the 4th century by Bishop Wulfila See also East Germanic
3. Also called (esp Brit)black letter the family of heavy script typefaces
4. another word for Goth

Gothic

1. In European architecture, the dominant style during the late Middle Ages , characterized by slender towers, pointed arch es, soaring ceilings, and flying buttress es. Many great cathedrals (see also cathedral ), including Chartres and Notre Dame de Paris , were built in this style.

Derived Forms

• ˈGothically, adverb

Other Words From

• Gothi·cal·ly adverb
• Gothic·ness Goth·ic·i·ty [go-, this, -i-tee], noun
• non-Gothic adjective
• post-Gothic adjective
• pre-Gothic adjective noun
• pseudo-Gothic adjective
• un·Gothic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gothic¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin Gothicus “of, pertaining to the Goths”; Goth, -ic

Example Sentences

Steeped in Gothic and Renaissance-era references, Bernad’s romantic designs feature almost exclusively antique lace and crochet in shades of cream and ivory, and sometimes black or the softest pink.

From Los Angeles Times

“Punish,” the latest offering from the Southern Gothic alt-pop star Ethel Cain, is a smoldering slow burn, a sparse piano ballad that stretches for nearly seven minutes and gradually corrodes.

From New York Times

Boeing’s story is a Gothic tragedy, and more often than not, those end badly for everyone.

From Los Angeles Times

Ghosts permitting, the grand reopening of the Monarch Bar and Gothic Lounge is now set for Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a Gothic, environmental take on heredity as well as inheritance, with one of the Haddesley daughters, Wenna, challenging both as human and earthen secrets bubble to the surface.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eerie
• grotesque