barbarism

Bar"ba*rism, n. Etym: [L. barbarismus, Gr.; cf. F. barbarisme.] 1. An uncivilized state or condition; rudeness of manners; ignorance of arts, learning, and literature; barbarousness. Prescott. 2. A barbarous, cruel, or brutal action; an outrage. A heinous barbarism . . . against the honor of marriage. Milton. 3. An offense against purity of style or language; any form of speech contrary to the pure idioms of a particular language. See Solecism. The Greeks were the first that branded a foreign term in any of their writers with the odious name of barbarism. G. Campbell.

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