new-wave
UK[ˈnjuː weɪv]US[ˈnuː weɪv]
adj
relating to or characteristic of a new development or movement, especially in music, film, or art, that is experimental and different from what is traditional or mainstream.
n
a new development or movement, especially in music, film, or art, that is experimental and different from what is traditional or mainstream.
Morpheme Breakdown
new
wave
new
recent
wave
movement
Etymology
The term "new-wave" is a modern English compound formed from two native Germanic elements. "New" descends from the Proto-Germanic 'newjaz', carrying the enduring sense of recent origin or novelty. "Wave" originates from the Proto-Germanic 'wagaz', related to motion and fluctuation. The compound first emerged in the mid-20th century as a metaphorical extension, likening a fresh, disruptive trend in cultural or artistic expression to a new surge or movement. It gained specific prominence in the 1970s and 1980s to describe a distinct, often avant-garde genre of rock music and film that consciously broke from established conventions, thus embodying both the novelty of "new" and the propagating force of a "wave."
Analysis
Structure: new (recent) + wave (movement)
- new: From Old English 'nīwe', 'nēowe', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'nieuw' and German 'neu'. Functions as an adjective meaning recent, fresh, or modern.
- wave: From Old English 'wafian' meaning 'to wave with the hands' and 'wæg' meaning 'motion, wave'. Of Germanic origin. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a surge or trend of activity, thought, or style.
Examples
The director was a prominent figure in the French new-wave cinema of the 1960s.
Their sound evolved from punk to a more sophisticated new-wave style.
The magazine focuses on new-wave designers who challenge traditional fashion norms.