gothicism
gothicism Lexical Profile
gothicism Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Conformity to or imitation of the Gothic style in architecture, art, or literature, characterized by medieval aesthetics, pointed arches, or themes of mystery and the macabre.
"The nineteenth-century cathedral is a striking monument to architectural Gothicism, featuring soaring vaults and elaborate stone tracery."
A word, idiom, or linguistic feature peculiar to the extinct Germanic Gothic language.
"The philologist identified several distinct Gothicisms preserved within the early medieval manuscript."
Rudeness or barbarity in manners, taste, or artistic expression, historically associated by classical critics with the medieval period.
"Eighteenth-century neoclassical critics often dismissed irregular dramatic structures as mere Gothicism."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 18th century from 'Gothic' and the suffix '-ism', originally used by neoclassical critics to disparage medieval styles and linguistic expressions before evolving to describe the Gothic revival in architecture and literature.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.