archaism

Alternative forms

• archaicism

Etymology

17th Century, from New Latin, from Ancient Greek ἀρχαϊσμός (arkhaïsmós, “an antiquated phrase or style”), from ἀρχαίζειν (arkhaízein, “to model one's style upon that of ancient writers”), from ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos, “old, ancient”), from ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “beginning”), from ἄρχω (árkhō, “I begin”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑː(ɹ)keɪˌɪzəm/, /ˈɑː(ɹ)kiˌɪzəm/

Noun

archaism (countable and uncountable, plural archaisms)

1. The adoption or imitation of archaic words or style.
2. An archaic word, style, etc.
   • L. Douglas

     He had the fastidiousness, the preciosity, the love of archaisms, of your true decadent.

Further reading

• archaism in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• archaism in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• archaism at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• charisma, machairs