cultismn.1
/ˈkʌltɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈkəlˌtɪz(ə)m/ A type of affected elegance of style used in Spanish literature in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and particularly associated with the poet Góngora y Argote; = Gongorism n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [noun] > affectation in Spanish style
Gongorism1813
cultism1874
Guevarism1883
1874 J. R. Morell Hist. European Lit. xiv. 78 The poet peculiarly deserving the charge of introducing and promoting cultism in Spain was Luis de Gongoza [sic].
1887 Encycl. Brit. XXII. 360 The cultism of Góngora, the artifice of which lies solely in the choice and arrangement of words.
1949 PMLA 64 496 Besides the more superficial symbolisms constantly present in cultism, the book offers others of deeper significance.
1997 J. H. Lytle & J. A. Mattson tr. I. Stavans Antiheroes ii. 34 Parody of European or North American literary trends permeated every vanguard, from Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz and her celebration of Góngora's cultism [etc.].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
cultismn.2
/ˈkʌltɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈkəlˌtɪz(ə)m/ 1. Participation in or formation of a cult (in various senses); cultic or cultish activity.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > kinds of worship > [noun] > spirit, system, or practice of
cultism1959
1899 Jrnl. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 67 352 He took to preaching Rādhā-cultism... The worship of Rādhā became the most prominent part of his rituals.]
1900 National Mag. Jan. 472/1 In Boston are nurtured the sincere movements that influence national life—always sincere, whether it be the acme of crankism, cultism or conservatism.
1949 R. K. Merton Social Theory iv. xii. 314 Cultism, informal cliques..these and other techniques may be used for self-aggrandizement.
1959 Mem. Soc. Amer. Archaeology No. 16. 205/2 There may have been some diminution in ceremonial cultism, although burial information is insufficient to judge this.
1986 J. Batten Judges 135 The Scientology movement..calls itself a church but appears to many to be a baroque amalgam of religion, cultism, psychological devices, and a dash of quackery.
2002 Book Nov. 80/1 A heated-up tale of murder and cultism at a very Bennington-like campus.
2. The fact or quality of having a strong appeal to a relatively small audience; the state of being influential despite limited public exposure or commercial success. Cf. cult status n. at cult n. Compounds 2b.
ΚΠ
1941 Cosmic Stories May 124/2 After a decade of publicity it [sc. Volapuk] settled down into cultism and is almost completely forgotten today.
1979 Creem Apr. 60/3 Too much has been written about Big Star's lack of success... As for Alex Chilton, his cultism is worth examining.
2010 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 Feb. c1/3 Though he has become a cult writer of sorts..he is uncomfortable with cultism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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