Preciosity

Pronunciation: /prɪˌsiˈɑsəti/

Definitions of preciosity

noun the quality of being excessively refined or affected in manner or language

Example Sentences

A1 I don't like preciosity in art, I prefer simple and straightforward pieces.

A2 Her writing style is known for its preciosity, with intricate details and elaborate descriptions.

B1 The artist's paintings were criticized for their preciosity, as they seemed overly ornate and artificial.

B2 The novel was praised for its preciosity in capturing the nuances of human emotions and relationships.

C1 The film director's work is characterized by its preciosity, with every frame meticulously crafted and visually stunning.

C2 The jewelry designer's creations are renowned for their preciosity, with exquisite gemstones and intricate designs that are truly one-of-a-kind.

Examples of preciosity in a Sentence

formal The artist's work was characterized by a sense of preciosity in every detail.

informal She always had a knack for adding a touch of preciosity to her outfits.

slang That necklace is so blingy, it's almost reaching levels of preciosity.

figurative His writing style was criticized for its excessive preciosity, lacking in raw emotion.

Grammatical Forms of preciosity

• plural: preciosities
• comparative: more precious
• superlative: most precious
• present tense: is precious
• future tense: will be precious
• perfect tense: has been precious
• continuous tense: is being precious
• singular: preciosity
• positive degree: precious
• infinitive: to be precious
• gerund: being precious
• participle: precious

Origin and Evolution of preciosity

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'preciosity' originated from the Latin word 'pretiositas' meaning preciousness or value.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe something of great value or preciousness, 'preciosity' evolved over time to also refer to overly refined or affected language or style, particularly in literature and art.