Gongorism

American  

[gong-guh-riz-uhm, gawng-] / ˈgɒŋ gəˌrɪz əm, ˈgɔŋ- /

noun

1. imitation of the ornate and intricate style of Góngora y Argote.

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Gongorism British  

/ ˈɡɒŋɡəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. an affected literary style characterized by intricate language and obscurity

2. an example of this

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Other Word Forms

• Gongorist noun
• Gongoristic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Gongorism

From the Spanish word gongorismo, dating back to 1805–15. See Góngora y Argote, -ism

Example Sentences

Gongorism had, meanwhile, introduced bombast and metaphorical obscurity, and no writer of eminence arose to attempt a more natural style, till the end of the seventeenth century.

From Handbook of Universal Literature From the Best and Latest Authorities by Botta, Anne C. Lynch

Saint Augustine was a Gongorine and a conceptualist at the same time, which makes me think that Gongorism and conceptualism are the most natural forms of passion and vehemence.

From Rosinante to the Road Again by Dos Passos, John

For some reason not very obvious this collection of verses was not published till 1631 when it was issued by Quevedo, who hoped that it would help to stem the current of Gongorism in Spain.

From Fray Luis de León A Biographical Fragment by Fitzmaurice-Kelly, James

As a poet Faria y Sousa was nearly as prolific; but his poems are vitiated by the prevailing Gongorism of his time.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

The same essay contains very useful information on Gongorism and other kinds of affected styles of the sixteenth century.

From The English Novel in the Time of Shakespeare by Jusserand, J. J.