Symbolism — • The investing of outward things or actions with an inner meaning, more especially for the expression of religious ideas Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Symbolism Symbolism … Catholic encyclopedia
SYMBOLISM — Symbolism (shocho shugi or sanborizumu), a late 19th century French literary movement, is primarily a reaction against naturalism and realism. Symbolist poets sought an art form that would reflect a deeper experience of existence. The… … Japanese literature and theater
Symbolism — Sym bol*ism, n. 1. The act of symbolizing, or the state of being symbolized; as, symbolism in Christian art is the representation of truth, virtues, vices, etc., by emblematic colors, signs, and forms. [1913 Webster] 2. A system of symbols or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Symbolism — Symbolism had a fleeting vogue among aesthetes in European art theatres of the 1890s and is best represented in the work of poet playwright Maurice Maeterlinck (1862 1949). Anton Chekhov (1860 1904) was half heartedly attracted to the quasi… … The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater
symbolism — ► NOUN 1) the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. 2) symbolic meaning attached to material objects. 3) (Symbolism) an artistic and poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas,… … English terms dictionary
symbolism — 1650s, practice of representing things with symbols, from SYMBOL (Cf. symbol) + ISM (Cf. ism). Attested from 1892 as a movement in French literature that aimed at representing ideas and emotions by indirect suggestion rather than direct… … Etymology dictionary
symbolism — *allegory … New Dictionary of Synonyms
symbolism — [sim′bə liz΄əm] n. 1. the representation of things by use of symbols, esp. in art or literature 2. a system of symbols 3. symbolic meaning 4. the theories or practices of a group of symbolists, as in art or literature … English World dictionary
symbolism — [[t]sɪ̱mbəlɪzəm[/t]] 1) N UNCOUNT Symbolism is the use of symbols in order to represent something. The scene is so rich in symbolism that any explanation risks spoiling the effect. ...a film much praised at the time for its visual symbolism. 2) N … English dictionary
symbolism — sym|bol|ism [ sımbə,lızəm ] noun uncount 1. ) the use of symbols to represent a thing, idea, or quality: political/religious/sexual symbolism 2. ) symbolism of the way in which an action or event is a sign of something more important: The… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
