medievalism

medievalism — noun

1. the quality of being like or suggesting the Middle Ages, especially in appearanc

1.名詞C2
釋義

the quality of being like or suggesting the Middle Ages, especially in appearance, atmosphere, or style — for example, the thick stone walls, pointed arches, or dim lighting in a building that make it feel old-fashioned in a medieval way.

例句

The old monastery's cold stone walls and narrow windows gave visitors a powerful sense of medievalism.

collocation: sense of medievalism

Caio praised the film's medievalism, especially the authentic chainmail armour and hand-painted tapestries.

同義詞
  • antiquity

    suggests great age in general, not specifically the Middle Ages

  • archaism

    focuses on old-fashioned language or style, not necessarily medieval

反義詞
  • modernity

    the quality of being modern or contemporary

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable and typically appears with modifiers such as romantic, charming, or strong. It describes the visual or atmospheric character of a thing, not a person's interest or study of history.

常見錯誤

❌The medievalism of the building was very old.
✅The medievalism of the building was striking.
💡'medievalism' refers to the quality of being medieval, not the age itself; use 'old' or 'ancient' for literal age.

2. a strong interest in or admiration for the culture, art, social structures, and

2.名詞C2
釋義

a strong interest in or admiration for the culture, art, social structures, and values that belonged to the medieval era, especially when this interest shapes later creative or intellectual movements.

例句

The Gothic Revival movement was driven by a deep medievalism among Victorian architects and designers.

deep medievalism

Tunde's research examines medievalism in Tennyson's poems and the Victorian fascination with knights and chivalry.

medievalism in Tennyson's poems

同義詞
  • medieval revival

    specifically a historical movement that revived medieval forms

  • medieval studies

    the academic field, which is broader and includes objective scholarship

  • Gothicism

    overlaps in architecture and literature but emphasizes the Gothic style

反義詞
  • modernism

    a movement that rejected medieval and historical styles in favour of new forms

  • classicism

    admiration for ancient Greek and Roman culture rather than medieval

用法筆記

Frequently used in academic and cultural criticism. Unlike sense 1, this sense refers to a conscious intellectual or artistic stance rather than the appearance of a physical object. Often paired with the names of movements or periods (e.g. Victorian medievalism, Romantic medievalism).

常見錯誤

❌She studied medievalism because she liked old castles.' (if meaning old buildings)
✅She studied medievalism because she admired the art and philosophy of the Middle Ages.
💡sense 2 is about intellectual devotion, not just liking old-looking things.