atticism
|at-ti-cism|
/ˈætɪsɪzəm/
concise, classical elegance
Etymology
'atticism' originates from French, specifically the word 'atticisme', where 'Attic-' referred to 'of Attica' (the region around Athens) and the suffix '-isme' meant 'practice or doctrine'.
'atticism' changed from Latin 'Atticismus' and French 'atticisme' and entered English as 'atticism' (used from the 16th–17th century), ultimately deriving from Greek 'Attikismos' (from 'Attikos', 'of Attica').
Initially it meant 'the use or imitation of the Attic dialect/forms', but over time it broadened to mean 'a concise, pure, and elegant literary or rhetorical style' in general.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a style of speaking or writing marked by concision, purity, and classical elegance, modeled on the Attic Greek (Athenian) standard.
Many critics praised the novel's atticism and restraint.
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Noun 2
the practice of using Attic Greek forms, idioms, or standards in language; adherence to the linguistic norms of Attic (Athenian) Greek.
His translations show a clear atticism in vocabulary and syntax.
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Noun 3
in rhetorical theory, the quality or tendency of favoring the clear, restrained, and pointed Attic style (often contrasted with the more ornate 'Asianism').
Classical rhetoricians contrasted atticism with Asianism when discussing taste.
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Last updated: 2025/11/16 00:28