gothic

comparative more gothic · superlative most gothic

1. Alternative letter-case form of Gothic.

   Frant and Etchingham [station buildings] are more flamboyantly gothic and are built of ragstone.

   1957 August 28, H. P. White, “The Tonbridge-Hastings Line and its Traffic”, in Railway Magazine, page 529

   1 more example

   By now South Koreans understand Pyongyang’s logic and know North Korea is highly unlikely to make good on its gothic threats.

   2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 06 Apr 2017

alternative gothic · alternative obsolete Gothick · alternative goffick

1. An extinct Germanic language, once spoken by the Goths.
2. Certain moths of the family Noctuidae.
3. A particular species of moth of the family Noctuidae, Naenia typica.

comparative more Gothic · superlative most Gothic · alternative gothic · alternative obsolete Gothick · alternative goffick

1. Of or relating to the Goths or their language.First known use 1611
2. figurativelyBarbarous, rude, unpolished, belonging to the “Dark Ages”, medieval as opposed to classical.

   “[W]hat he holds of all things to be most gothic, is gallantry to the women.”

   1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, II.iii.6

   1 more example

   Enormities which gleam like comets through the darkness of gothic and superstitious ages.

   1812 letter, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Prose Works, volume II, quoted in OED, published 1888, page 384

   Synonyms: barbarous, medieval, rude, unpolished, animalistic, barbarian, barbaric, barbarious · Antonyms: classical

3. architectureOf or relating to the architectural style favored in Western Europe in the 12th to 16th centuries, with high-pointed arches, clustered columns, etc.First known use 1640s

   Gothic arches

   2 more examples

   Or does the L.C.C. [London County Council] dislike nineteenth century Gothic?

   1944 January and February, C. F. Cobon, “The County of London Plan”, in Railway Magazine, page 24

   The Gothic style did not cease to exist: it did, however, cease to be all-powerful, and it almost ceased to create new forms. Gothic architects had by this time drawn every possible conclusion from the premises which had been laid down […]

   2000, Paul Frankl, Paul Crossley, Gothic Architecture, Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 258

4. literatureOf or relating to the style of fictional writing associated with Gothic fiction, emphasizing violent or macabre events in a mysterious, desolate setting.First known use early 19th c.

   Gothic tales

   1 more example

   Shelley's two early novels Zastrozzi and St. Irvyne are, as many scholars have noted, obviously connected to the tradition of the Gothic novel; as well, two volumes of early poetry contain Gothic elements and his tragedy The Cenci has been […]

   1975, John V. Murphy, The Dark Angel: Gothic Elements in Shelley's Works, Bucknell University Press, →ISBN, page 9

   Synonyms: Gothish

5. EnglandmediaSynonym of black letter.

   Gothic letters

   Synonyms: black letter

6. USmediaOf a sans serif typeface using straight, even-width lines, also known as grotesque or lineal.
7. Of or relating to the goth subculture, music or lifestyle.First known use 1980s

   Gothic rock

   2 more examples

   Gothic dress

   Why is this gothic glam so popular?

   1983 December 24, “OED”, in New Musical Express

   Synonyms: goth

plural Gothics · alternative gothic · alternative obsolete Gothick · alternative goffick

1. A novel written in the Gothic style.

   One hundred fifty Gothics sold over 1.5 million copies a month last spring.

   1996, Nora Sayre, Sixties going on seventies, page 180