antiexpressiveness
|an-ti-ex-press-ive-ness|
/ˌæn.ti.ɪkˈsprɛsɪvnəs/
opposition to outward expression
Etymology
'antiexpressiveness' originates from Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and the noun 'expressiveness', ultimately from Latin 'exprimere' meaning 'to press out' (through Old French and Middle English formations).
'express' comes from Latin 'exprimere' -> Old French 'exprimer' -> Middle English 'express'; 'expressive' developed from 'express' + suffix '-ive', and 'expressiveness' from 'expressive' + '-ness'; the prefix 'anti-' was attached in Modern English to form 'antiexpressiveness'.
Initially the roots referred to 'pressing out' or conveying outward; over time the compound came to mean 'being against outward expression' or 'the quality of opposing expressiveness'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being opposed to expressiveness; deliberate suppression, avoidance, or absence of expressive behavior or stylistic flourish.
The critic described the movement's antiexpressiveness as a reaction against theatrical emotion in art.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/31 21:43