verism

ver·ism

[veer-iz-uhm, ver-]
noun
the theory that rigid representation of truth and reality is essential to art and literature, and therefore the ugly and vulgar must be included.

Origin:
1890–95; < Latin vēr(um) truth + -ism; cf. verismo

ver·ist, noun, adjective
ve·ris·tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To verism
Collins
World English Dictionary
verism (ˈvɪərɪzəm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
extreme naturalism in art or literature
 
[C19: from Italian verismo, from vero true, from Latin vērus]
 
'verist
 
n, —adj
 
ve'ristic
 
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
Cite This Source
00:10
Verism is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT