[ad. Gr. ἀρχαἴσμός, f. ἀρχαῑζ-ειν to copy the ancients in language, etc., f. ἀρχαῖος ancient: see -ISM. Cf. F. archaïsme.]
1. The retention or imitation of what is old or obsolete; the employment in language, art, etc., of the characteristics of an earlier period; archaic style.
[1612. Brinsley, Pos. Parts (1669), 13. This is called Archaismus, in imitation of the ancient kind of speaking.]
1643. Slatyer, Psalms, A v. Very neare it [the authorized version] saving where by the archaisme … occasioned to recede.
1783. Lemon, Eng. Etym. (Jod.). Archaism;… a fondness for antient customs, antiquated phrases, obsolete words, &c. &c. &c.
1839. Hallam, Hist. Lit., III. III. vii. § 33. A slight tinge of archaism was thought by Bacon and Raleigh congenial to an elevated style.
2. An archaic word or expression.
1715. Watts, Horæ Lyr. (ed 3), Pref. p. xxviii. Nor will I ever affect Archaisms, Exoticisms, and a quaint Uncouthness of Speech, in Order to become Uncouthness of Speech, in Order to become perfectly Miltonian.
a. 1804. Boucher, Gloss., Introd. 20/1. Erciscere … used once by Cicero, but … avowedly as an archaism.
1864. Pusey, Daniel, 310. The Pentateuch has marks of greater antiquity, having archaisms which the book of Joshua has not.
