English Lexicon

Archaism

/ˈɑːr.keɪ.ɪ.zəm/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

1 sense
As noun
  1. 1

    A thing that is very old or old-fashioned; a word, spelling, or phrase that is no longer in everyday use.

    "The poem is filled with obscure archaism that make it difficult for modern readers to understand."

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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'arkhaismos', from 'arkhaios' meaning ancient or primitive, stemming from 'arkhe' meaning beginning or origin. It entered English in the mid-19th century to describe words, phrases, or linguistic forms that have fallen out of common everyday usage but are preserved in special contexts.

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