Spasmodic School
Preserved but no longer current.
The. A name applied by Professor Aytoun to certain authors of the 19th century, whose writings were distinguished by forced conceits and unnatural style. The most noted are Bailey (author of Festus}, Gerald Massey, Alexander Smith, and Sydney Dobell.
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 “Spasmodic School” mean?
The. A name applied by Professor Aytoun to certain authors of the 19th century, whose writings were distinguished by forced conceits and unnatural style. The most noted are Bailey (author of Festus}, Gerald Massey, Alexander Smith, and Sydney Dobell.
Is “Spasmodic School” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.