archaism

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

17th century, from New Latin archaismus, from Ancient Greek ἀρχαϊσμός (arkhaïsmós, an antiquated phrase or style), from ἀρχαίζω (arkhaízō, to model one's style upon that of ancient writers), from ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos, old, ancient), from ἀρχή (arkhḗ, beginning), from ἄρχω (árkhō, I begin), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ergʰ- (to begin, rule, command).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): (UK) /ˈɑː.keɪ.ɪz.əm/, (UK) /ɑːˈkeɪ.ɪ.zəm/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈɑɹ.kiˌɪz.əm/, /ˈɑɹ.keɪˌɪz.əm/
  • (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈaː.kæɪ.ɪz.əm/

Noun

archaism (countable and uncountable, plural archaisms)

  1. The adoption or imitation of archaic words or style.
  2. An archaic word, style, etc.
    In this text, the word "methinks" appears to be a deliberate archaism.
    • 1902, Robert Langton Douglas, A History of Siena:
      He had the fastidiousness, the preciosity, the love of archaisms, of your true decadent.

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