archaism

ar·cha·ism

(är′kē-ĭz′əm, -kā-)

1. An archaic word, phrase, idiom, or other expression.

2. An archaic style, quality, or usage.

[New Latin archaeismus, from Greek arkhaismos, from arkhaios, ancient; see archaic.]

ar′cha·ist n.

ar′cha·is′tic (-ĭs′tĭk) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

archaism

(ˈɑːkɪˌɪzəm; -keɪ-)

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

2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) an archaic word, expression, style, etc

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

ˈarchaist n

ˌarchaˈistic adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ar•cha•ism

(ˈɑr kiˌɪz əm, -keɪ-)

1. an archaic verbal usage.

2. the use of archaic style or language.

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

[1635–45; < New Latin, Latin archaismus < Greek archaïsmós. See archaic, -ism]

ar′cha•ist, n.

ar`cha•is′tic, adj.

ar′cha•ize`, v.t., v.i. -ized, -iz•ing.

archaism

a taste for and imitation of earlier styles, a recurrent phenomenon since ancient times based on the premise that earlier works were somehow purer and simpler. Cf. primitivism.

See also: Language Style

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

archaism - the use of an archaic expression

ambages - (archaic) roundabout or mysterious ways of action

palfrey - especially a light saddle horse for a woman

gildhall - the meeting place of a medieval guild

hold - a stronghold

pibgorn, stockhorn, hornpipe - an ancient (now obsolete) single-reed woodwind; usually made of bone

complexion - (obsolete) a combination of elements (of dryness and warmth or of the four humors) that was once believed to determine a person's health and temperament

sooth - truth or reality; "in sooth"

muchness - greatness of quantity or measure or extent

fardel - a burden (figuratively in the form of a bundle)

alienism - an obsolete term for the study and treatment of mental illness

formulation, expression - the style of expressing yourself; "he suggested a better formulation"; "his manner of expression showed how much he cared"

the halt - (archaic) lame persons collectively; "the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind"--Luke 14:21

Negress - a Black woman or girl

colored person - a United States term for Blacks that is now considered offensive

mulatto - an offspring of a black and a white parent

quadroon - an offspring of a mulatto and a white parent; a person who is one-quarter black

octoroon - an offspring of a quadroon and a white parent; a person who is one-eighth black

caitiff - a cowardly and despicable person

simple - any herbaceous plant having medicinal properties

meed - a fitting reward

bosom - the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept; "his bosom was bursting with the secret"

air - once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)

fire - once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)

earth - once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)

ether, quintessence - the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies

water - once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)

control - verify by using a duplicate register for comparison; "control an account"

compass - bring about; accomplish; "This writer attempts more than his talents can compass"

abide, bide, stay - dwell; "You can stay with me while you are in town"; "stay a bit longer--the day is still young"

commodious, convenient - large and roomy (`convenient' is archaic in this sense); "a commodious harbor"; "a commodious building suitable for conventions"

horary - relating to the hours; "the horary cycle"

meretricious - like or relating to a prostitute; "meretricious relationships"

apopemptic - addressed to one who is departing; "apopemptic hymns"

scriptural - written or relating to writing

empiric, empirical - relying on medical quackery; "empiric treatment"

hence - from this place; "get thee hence!"

away, forth, off - from a particular thing or place or position (`forth' is obsolete); "ran away from the lion"; "wanted to get away from there"; "sent the children away to boarding school"; "the teacher waved the children away from the dead animal"; "went off to school"; "they drove off"; "go forth and preach"

privily - confidentially or in secret; "told her friend privily that she was planning to be married"

brotherly - (archaic as adverb) in a brotherly manner

verily - in truth; certainly; "I verily think so"; "trust in the Lord...and verily thou shalt be fed"- Ps 37:3

imperativeness, instancy - the quality of being insistent; "he pressed his demand with considerable instancy"

Black person, Black - a person with dark skin who comes from Africa (or whose ancestors came from Africa)

do it, get it on, get laid, have a go at it, have intercourse, have it away, have it off, be intimate, lie with, roll in the hay, screw, sleep together, sleep with, hump, jazz, love, bed, bang, make out, know - have sexual intercourse with; "This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm"; "Adam knew Eve"; "Were you ever intimate with this man?"