1. a person who uses or favors archaic words, styles, or practices
Usage: often used in literary or linguistic contexts

Examples

• The poet was known as an archaist for deliberately employing Middle English vocabulary in her contemporary works.
• Some critics dismissed him as an archaist clinging to outdated grammatical forms.
• The archaist movement in 18th-century literature sought to revive older literary traditions.
• She studied under an archaist who believed classical language preserved deeper meaning.
• The archaist's preference for 'thee' and 'thou' made his writing feel deliberately old-fashioned.