expressionist
|ex-press-ion-ist|
🇺🇸
/ɪkˈsprɛʃənɪst/
🇬🇧
/ɪkˈspreʃ(ə)nɪst/
one who emphasizes emotional expression
Etymology
'expressionist' originates from English, specifically formed from the noun 'expression' plus the agent suffix '-ist', where 'expression' derives from Latin 'expressio' (from 'exprimere') meaning 'to press out' and '-ist' denotes an adherent or practitioner.
'expression' passed into Middle English via Old French 'expression' (from Latin 'expressio'); the modern English compound 'expressionist' developed in the late 19th to early 20th century alongside the art movement 'expressionism' to name its practitioners.
Initially related to the act of 'expressing' (literally 'pressing out'), the term evolved to denote specifically a supporter or practitioner of the artistic movement expressionism, emphasizing subjective emotion rather than objective representation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who practices, advocates, or is associated with expressionism in art, literature, music, or theatre — emphasizing the expression of emotion and subjective experience over realistic depiction.
The expressionist's works foreground intense feeling and distorted forms to convey inner turmoil.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of expressionism; marked by a focus on conveying emotion, often through distortion or exaggeration of form and color.
He admired the expressionist style of the film for its intense emotional impact.
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Last updated: 2025/10/27 21:53