Definition of Gothic

Gothicadjective

Gothic

/ˈɡɒθɪk//ˈɡɑːθɪk/

Word Originfrom French gothique or late Latin gothicus, from Gothi (plural), from Greek Gothoi, from Gothic Gutthiuda ‘the Gothic people’. It was used in the 17th and 18th cents to mean ‘not classical’ (i.e. not Greek or Roman), and hence to refer to medieval architecture which did not follow classical models (sense (2)) and a typeface based on medieval handwriting (sense (4)).

namespace

connected with the Goths (= a Germanic people who fought against the Roman Empire)

built in the style that was popular in western Europe from the 12th to the 16th centuries, and which has pointed arches and windows and tall thin pillars

Example:
  • a Gothic church

written in the style popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, which described romantic adventures in mysterious or frightening places or situations

having pointed letters with thick lines and sharp angles. German books used to be printed in this style.

connected with goths

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