symbolist etymology

Etymology

The word "symbolist" is derived from the Greek word "σύμβολον" (symbolon), which means "sign" or "token."

Meaning

Symbolism is a literary and artistic movement that emerged in the late 19th century, primarily in France. It emphasized the use of symbols to express abstract ideas, emotions, and experiences. The symbolist movement rejected realism and the depiction of the external world, instead focusing on the inner world of the imagination and the subconscious.

Origin

The symbolist movement had its roots in the aesthetic and literary principles of the Decadent movement, which arose in France in the 1880s. Decadent writers and artists sought to explore themes of beauty, excess, and decay. Symbolism evolved from Decadence and became a distinct movement in the 1890s.

Key Characteristics

• Use of Symbols: Symbolist writers and artists used symbols to evoke a wide range of meanings and associations. These symbols often had multiple interpretations and could represent different things to different readers or viewers.
• Emphasis on Subjectivity: Symbolist art and literature emphasized the inner life of the individual and the importance of the subconscious.
• Rejection of Realism: Symbolists rejected the depiction of the objective, external world in favor of a more subjective, dreamlike depiction of reality.
• Focus on Suggestion: Symbolist writers and artists used subtle hints and suggestions rather than explicit descriptions to convey their ideas.
• Musicality of Language: Symbolist poets often paid great attention to the musicality of their language, using rhythm, alliteration, and assonance to create a sensory experience.

Notable Symbolist Writers and Artists

• Stéphane Mallarmé
• Paul Verlaine
• Arthur Rimbaud
• Charles Baudelaire
• Gustav Klimt
• Odilon Redon
• James McNeill Whistler

symbolist relate terms

• symbol

  Symbol Etymology From the Greek word symbolon meaning token or sign Originally

• symbolism

  Etymology From Latin symbolum from Greek symbolon from sym meaning together o

• symbol

  Symbol Etymology From the Greek word symbolon meaning token or sign Originally

• symbolist

  Etymology The word symbolist is derived from the Greek word σύμβολον symbolo

• chorister

  Etymology and Meaning Origin Old French choriste or Late Latin chorista Meaning

• barrister

  Etymology Old French barretor meaning quarrelsome litigious person Late Latin ba

• artist

  Etymology The word artist comes from the Latin word ars which means skill or craf

• strait

  Etymology Old English stræt Proto Germanic straita Ultimately from Latin strata

• nervous

  Etymology The word nervous comes from the Latin word nervus meaning sinew or ner

• posthumous

  Etymology Post Latin after Humus Latin earth Meaning Pertaining to or o

• college

  Etymology The word college originates from the Latin word collegium meaning a group

• cool

  Etymology The word cool has an interesting etymology that traces back to the Old Englis

• insidious

  Etymology The word insidious is derived from the Latin word insidiosus meaning craf

• prayer

  Etymology The word prayer comes from the Middle English word preiere which in turn d

• renounce

  Etymology Origin Late Middle English in the sense abandon give up from Old Fr