Archaism

Pronunciation: /ˈɑrkəˌɪzəm/

Definitions of archaism

noun a word or expression that is no longer in common use, typically from an earlier time period

Example Sentences

A1 An archaism is a word or expression that is no longer in common use.

A2 Students in the history class learned about archaisms in ancient texts.

B1 The author used archaisms in the dialogue to create a sense of authenticity in the historical novel.

B2 The linguist studied the evolution of archaisms in the English language over time.

C1 The poet's use of archaisms added a unique flair to her modern sonnets.

C2 The professor's lecture on archaisms in literature was both informative and engaging.

Examples of archaism in a Sentence

formal The use of 'thee' and 'thou' in modern English is considered an archaism.

informal Using 'whilst' instead of 'while' is an archaism that some people still use.

slang Dude, saying 'thy' instead of 'your' is such an archaism.

figurative In a world of constant change, holding onto archaisms can feel like a comforting link to the past.

Grammatical Forms of archaism

• past tense: archaised
• plural: archaisms
• comparative: more archaic
• superlative: most archaic
• present tense: archaise
• future tense: will archaise
• perfect tense: have archaised
• continuous tense: is archaising
• singular: archaism
• positive degree: archaic
• infinitive: to archaise
• gerund: archaising
• participle: archaising

Origin and Evolution of archaism

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'archaism' originated from the Greek word 'archaismos', which means 'ancient style'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to the use of ancient or obsolete language or style in literature, the term 'archaism' has evolved to also describe anything that is old-fashioned or outdated in modern contexts.