gothic

goth•ic

[[t]ˈgɒθ ɪk[/t]] adj.

1) archit. (usu. cap.)

a) of or pertaining to a style of architecture prevalent in W Europe from the mid-12th to the 16th century, characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, flying buttresses, rich ornamentation, and a progressive lightening of structure

b) of or pertaining to a style of architecture imitating Gothic forms and motifs

2) peo (cap.) of or pertaining to the Goths or their language

3) why (usu. cap.) of or pertaining to the Middle Ages; medieval

4) (sometimes cap.) barbarous or crude

5) lit. (often cap.) of or pertaining to a style of literature characterized by a gloomy setting, mysterious, sinister, or violent events, and, in contemporary fiction, an imperiled heroine

6) fia (usu. cap.) the arts, crafts, or architecture of the Gothic period

7) peo (cap.) the extinct East Germanic language of the Goths, preserved esp. in Ulfilas' 4th-century translation of the Bible

Abbr.: Go

8) cvb lit. (often cap.) a novel, play, film, etc., in the gothic style

9) pri (often cap.)

a) a square-cut printing type without serifs or hairlines

b) black letter

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Etymology: 1605–15; < LL goth′i•cal•ly, adv. goth′ic•ness n.