gothic

adjmedieval

Synonyms for gothic

adj medieval

Word Origin & History

"of the Goths," Germanic people who lived in Eastern Europe c.100 C.E., "pertaining to the Goths or their language," 1610s, from Late Latin Gothicus, from Gothi, Greek Gothoi, all from Gothic gutþiuda "Gothic people," the first element cognate with Old Norse gotar "men." "The sense 'men' is usually taken to be the secondary one, but as the etymology of the word is unknown, this is uncertain" [Gordon]. The unhistorical -th- in English is from Late Latin.

Used in sense of "savage despoiler" (1660s) in reference to their fifth-century sacking of Roman cities (cf. vandal, and French gothique, still with a sense of "barbarous, rude, cruel"). Gothic also was used by scholars to mean "Germanic, Teutonic" (1640s), hence its evolution as a 17c. term for the art style that emerged in northern Europe in the Middle Ages, and the early 19c. literary style that used northern European medieval settings to suggest horror and mystery. The word was revived 1983 as the name for a style of music and the associated youth culture; abbreviated form goth is attested from 1986. Gothic revival in reference to architecture and decorating first recorded 1869 in writing of C.L. Eastlake.

Example Sentences for gothic

In Totila arose a new Gothic leader, the bravest of the brave.

The first act of that fearful drama, the Gothic war, was over.

These were the parting tokens of Gothic affection for Italy.

When I got close to it I saw that it was a massive structure with Gothic openings.

A Gothic cathedral affirms that it was done by us and not done by us.

She removed a pile of plates from the Gothic window, and they leant out of it.

The one who had volunteered his counsel wiped his bald Gothic brow.

The newcomer had a long, Gothic face and a merry-wise expression.

German names and quotations are in Gothic type (black letter).

Lancet windows: high, narrow windows of the earliest Gothic architecture.