(definition) by Webster 1913 Tue Dec 21 1999 at 21:52:58

Ar"cha*ism (#), n. [Gr. , fr. ancient, fr. beginning: cf. F. archaisme. See Arch, a.]

1.

An ancient, antiquated, or old-fashioned, word, expression, or idiom; a word or form of speech no longer in common use.

2.

Antiquity of style or use; obsoleteness.

A select vocabulary corresponding (in point of archaism and remoteness from ordinary use) to our Scriptural vocabulary. De Quincey.

 

© Webster 1913.

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