Orientalism

O·ri·en·tal·ism

[awr-ee-en-tl-iz-uhm, ohr-]
noun (often lowercase)
1.
a peculiarity or idiosyncrasy of the Oriental peoples.
2.
the character or characteristics of the Oriental peoples.
3.
the knowledge and study of Oriental languages, literature, etc.

Origin:
1760–70; oriental + -ism

O·ri·en·tal·ist, noun
an·ti-O·ri·en·tal·ism, noun
an·ti-O·ri·en·tal·ist, noun, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
Orientalism (ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəˌlɪzəm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  knowledge of or devotion to the Orient
2.  an Oriental quality, style, or trait
 
Ori'entalist
 
n
 
Oriental'istic
 
adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Orientalism is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

Orientalism
in reference to character, style, trait, or idiom felt to be from the Orient, 1769, from oriental + -ism.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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