noun
- words, phrases, or expressions that are no longer in common use but were once current in an earlier period
Usage: plural form of archaism
Examples
- The professor explained that ‘thou’ and ‘thee’ are archaisms from Early Modern English.
- Shakespeare’s plays contain many archaisms that modern readers find difficult to understand.
- The translator chose to preserve some archaisms to maintain the historical flavor of the text.
- Students studying medieval literature encounter numerous archaisms in their readings.
- The dictionary includes a section on archaisms to help readers understand older texts.
- Writers sometimes use archaisms deliberately to create a sense of antiquity or formality.