Gothic Architecture
Preserved but no longer current.
A style prevalent in Western Europe from the 12th to the 16th centuries, characterized by the pointed arch, clustered columns, etc. The name has nothing to do with the Goths, but was bestowed in contempt by the architects of the Renaissance period on mediasval architecture, which they termed clumsy, fit only for barbarians or Goths.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Gothic Architecture” mean?
A style prevalent in Western Europe from the 12th to the 16th centuries, characterized by the pointed arch, clustered columns, etc. The name has nothing to do with the Goths, but was bestowed in contempt by the architects of the Renaissance period on mediasval architecture, which they termed clumsy, fit only for barbarians or Goths.
Is “Gothic Architecture” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.