Word of the Day: Anachronism
Anachronism (ə-năk’rə-nĭz’əm) is the placing of a person or thing out of its natural chronological or historical time. Putting a written book in a prehistoric movie, therefore, would be considered an anachronism. Notice that in poetry and other arts anachronisms can appear both deliberately and accidentally.
The filibuster, which seems more and more an anachronism in the age of television, grew out of the practice of virtually unlimited debate that early members of Congress designed to prevent majorities from silencing minority voices. (NY Times)
At a party once I was quite fiercely attacked by a don’s wife on the theme of “the women’s page is an anachronism.” (The Guardian)
Recommended For You
Share
Subscribe to Receive our Articles and Exercises via Email
- You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed!
- Subscribers get access to our exercise archives, writing courses, writing jobs and much more!
- You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free!
1 Response to “Word of the Day: Anachronism”
-
Mario J. Sacripante
The above excerpt from “The Guardian” seems to lack a comma after “At a party once…” Can we confirm this for curiosity’s sake?
Mario
Leave a comment: