Dictionary

formalist en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈfɔɹml̩ˌɪst/ (US)

Etymology

Etymology tree English formal Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English formalist From formal + -ist.

Meanings

1. Of or pertaining to formalism; formalistic

Forms

Deriveds

formalistic

Relateds

formalism

Translations (7)

nl formalistisch (of or pertaining to formalism) · fr formaliste (of or pertaining to formalism) · es formalista (of or pertaining to formalism) · fi formalistinen (of or pertaining to formalism) · ro formalist (of or pertaining to formalism) · ca formalista (of or pertaining to formalism) · pl formalistyczny (of or pertaining to formalism)

formalist en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈfɔɹml̩ˌɪst/ (US)

Etymology

Etymology tree English formal Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English formalist From formal + -ist.

Meanings

1. An overly formal person, especially one who adheres to current forms; a stickler
   • The Besht preached that the simple man, imbued with native faith and able to pray fervently and wholeheartedly with a sense of joy in his heart, was nearer and dearer to God than the learned but joyless formalist spending his whole life in the study of Talmud. 2017, Velvel Pasternak, Behind the Music, Stories, Anecdotes, Articles and Reflections, page 225:
2. An advocate of formalism

Forms

Deriveds

neoformalist · antiformalist

Translations (14)

pl formalista (overly formal person) · fr formaliste (overly formal person) · es formalista (advocate of formalism) · ru формали́ст (overly formal person) · ca formalista (overly formal person) · ca formalista (advocate of formalism) · pl formalistka (advocate of formalism) · pl formalistka (overly formal person) · pl formalista (advocate of formalism) · pt formalista (overly formal person) · de Formalist (overly formal person) · nl formalist (overly formal person) · es formalista (overly formal person) · fr formaliste (advocate of formalism)