romanticism

Ro*man"ti*cism, n. Etym: [CF. It. romanticismo, F. romantisme, romanticisme.] Defn: A fondness for romantic characteristics or peculiarities; specifically, in modern literature, an aiming at romantic effects; -- applied to the productions of a school of writers who sought to revive certain medi He [Lessing] may be said to have begun the revolt from pseudo- classicism in poetry, and to have been thus unconsciously the founder of romanticism. Lowell.

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