mannerism
UK[ˈmænərɪzəm]US[ˈmænərɪzəm]
n
a particular habit or way of speaking or behaving that is often artificial or exaggerated.
n
a style in art, music, or literature that uses complicated forms and emphasizes skill and the artist's imagination, especially in the 16th century in europe.
Morpheme Breakdown
manner
ism
manner
fashion, method, way,
ism
Etymology
the word "mannerism" traces its lineage to the latin manus, meaning "hand," which evolved through old french maniere to signify a method or way of handling things. the suffix "-ism," of greek origin, was added to denote a distinctive practice or style derived from a particular manner. initially used in the 18th century to describe an artistic style characterized by artificiality and exaggerated elegance, the term's logic connects the literal "way of the hand" (in artistic execution) to an abstract, identifiable style or habitual behavior. thus, a mannerism is essentially a recognizable and often stylized "way" of acting or creating.
Analysis
Structure: manner + ism
- manner: from old french maniere, meaning "fashion, method, way," ultimately from latin manuarius, "of the hand," from manus, "hand." in this word, it functions as the base, carrying the core meaning of "way of doing something."
- ism: a suffix of greek origin (via latin -ismus), used to form nouns indicating a distinctive practice, system, doctrine, or characteristic condition. it functions as a nominalizer, turning the base into a concept or style.
Examples
his constant throat-clearing is a nervous mannerism.
the artist's early work was marked by the elaborate mannerism of the period.
she has a mannerism of twisting her hair when she's thinking.