gothic

C1 Topic:Culture & History

US /ˈɡɑθɪk/ UK /ˈɡɒθɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #18205

Meanings

1

adj
of a European architectural style marked by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and high, elaborate structures

The chapel has narrow Gothic windows and a vaulted stone roof.
2

adj
of fiction or art characterized by mystery, horror, decay, and a threatening atmosphere

The novel combines a ruined mansion with distinctly gothic suspense.
3

adj
relating to the ancient Goths or their extinct Germanic language

Only fragments survive outside the Gothic Bible translation.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · of a european architectural... medievalGothic-style

2 adj · of fiction or art... macabre dark gloomy

3 adj · relating to the ancient... Gothic-languageGoth-related

Opposites

classical modern

Word family

Derived forms neo-gothicgothically

Related forms GothGothic architectureGothic fiction

Etymology

From Late Latin Gothicus, 'of the Goths.' Renaissance writers applied the name dismissively to medieval architecture, believing it nonclassical or barbarous; later it named the literary tradition of medieval settings, terror, and mystery.

Topics

Culture & History

External links

# gothic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈɡɑθɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɡɒθɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 18205

## Meanings
1. of a European architectural style marked by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and high, elaborate structures
2. of fiction or art characterized by mystery, horror, decay, and a threatening atmosphere
3. relating to the ancient Goths or their extinct Germanic language

## Examples
- The chapel has narrow Gothic windows and a vaulted stone roof.
- The novel combines a ruined mansion with distinctly gothic suspense.
- Only fragments survive outside the Gothic Bible translation.

## Synonyms
- medieval
- macabre
- dark
- gloomy

## Antonyms
- classical
- modern

## Derived Forms
- neo-gothic
- gothically

## Related Forms
- Goth
- Gothic architecture
- Gothic fiction

## Etymology
From Late Latin Gothicus, 'of the Goths.' Renaissance writers applied the name dismissively to medieval architecture, believing it nonclassical or barbarous; later it named the literary tradition of medieval settings, terror, and mystery.

## Topics
- Culture & History

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