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archaism Definition

ar·cha·ism (är′kā iz′əm, -kē-)

noun

  1. the use or imitation of archaic words, technique, etc.
  2. an archaic word, usage, style, practice, etc.

Etymology: ModL archaismus < Fr archaisme < Gr archaismos < archaios, old

archaism Related Forms
ar′·cha·ist noun ar′·cha·is′·tic (--is′tik) adjective ar′·cha·is′·ti·cally adverb
archaism Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • avoid: We have sought to avoid archaism, jargon, and all that is either stilted or slipshod.
  • use: Determining whether Shakespeare uses archaisms consciously requires a close examination of his language word by word.
  • remove: He is on the whole a much clearer writer than '&#257;&#7751;amoli and has tended to remove slight archaisms and awkwardnesses.

Adjective modifier

  • deliberate: On the other hand, there is no law against deliberate archaism.
  • verbal: Language The most common understanding of literary archaism in English is that of verbal archaism.
  • few: We don't need to get rid of a few archaisms.