revivalism
UK[rɪˈvaɪvəlɪzəm]US[rɪˈvaɪvəlɪzəm]
n
A tendency or movement seeking to revive a previous cultural practice, style, or religious fervor.
n
The promotion of religious revival, especially through evangelistic meetings.
Morpheme Breakdown
revival
ism
revival
to live again
ism
doctrine or movement
Etymology
The word 'revivalism' is a distinctly modern English formation, combining the established noun 'revival' with the productive suffix '-ism'. The core concept, 'revival', originates from the Latin 'reviviscere', meaning "to come to life again," itself built from 're-' (again) and 'vivere' (to live). This literal sense of renewed life was metaphorically extended in Christian contexts from the 18th century to describe periods of renewed religious enthusiasm and conversion. By adding the suffix '-ism', which denotes a distinctive practice, system, or movement, the term 'revivalism' was coined to formally label the organized promotion of such religious awakenings, a meaning later broadened to include secular cultural or artistic resurgences.
Analysis
Structure: revival (to live again) + ism (doctrine or movement)
revival: From Latin 'revivere' (to live again), via Old French. In this word, it functions as the core root meaning "to return to life or activity."
ism: A suffix of Greek origin (via Latin '-ismus'), forming nouns denoting a system, principle, or ideological movement.
Examples
The 19th-century religious revivalism in America led to large camp meetings and widespread evangelism.
There's a noticeable revivalism in fashion, with designers constantly reinterpreting styles from the 1990s.
His architectural work is not mere imitation but a thoughtful revivalism that adapts classical principles for modern use.