Etymology

symbolism

sym·bol·ism
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Today it means: Representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of objects or qualities. Full definition →

First used between 1645 and 1655.French symbolisme
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The story

  1. French · semantic loan fromsymbolisme
  2. English todaysymbolism

From symbol + -ism, sense 2 being a semantic loan from French symbolisme.

First known use, by meaning

  • from between 1645 and 1655. Representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of objects or qualities.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.