archaism
Archaism (noun) means an old-fashioned word, phrase or style that is no longer in ordinary use. Example: “The word "thou" is an archaism in modern English.”
How to use archaism
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old word or style that people no longer use every day.
It is a fairly formal, technical word used mainly when discussing language and literature.
Use the related adjective archaic to describe the word or style, and archaism for the thing itself.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The word "thou" is an _____ in modern English.
Etymology
The word dates from the 17th century and comes from New Latin archaismus. That in turn came from Ancient Greek, where a related word meant an antiquated phrase or style, and ultimately from a Greek word meaning old or ancient.
