BATHETIC Meaning and
Definition
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Bathetic is an adjective derived from the word "bathos," which refers to a sudden shift in tone or style from elevated and serious to trivial and overly sentimental. Bathetic, therefore, describes a literary, artistic, or expressive work that displays a disappointing or comically inappropriate attempt at being profound or significant. It is typically used to describe something that aims to evoke deep emotion but falls short due to its sudden and awkward descent into banality or mawkishness.
The term bathetic can also be applied to describe an individual's behavior or mannerisms that display an exaggerated attempt at expressing deep sentiment or feeling, ultimately appearing artificial or insincere. This term may be used when referring to someone who portrays excessive or dramatic emotions, often to gain attention or sympathy, but their behavior or words come across as melodramatic or forced.
In a broader context, bathetic can be used to critique a work or expression that tries too hard to evoke emotion without achieving the desired impact. It emphasizes the disappointment or disillusionment resulting from the exaggerated or insincere attempt at evoking deep feelings, usually leaving the audience feeling let down or unimpressed. Overall, bathetic characterizes an unsuccessful attempt at creating genuine emotional resonance through a clumsy descent into triviality or inauthenticity.
Common Misspellings for BATHETIC
Etymology of BATHETIC
The word "bathetic" is derived from the noun "pathos" with the addition of the prefix "bath-".
The noun "pathos" comes from the ancient Greek word "pathos" (πάθος), which means "suffering" or "emotion". In literary and rhetorical contexts, "pathos" refers to an appeal to the emotions of the audience.
The prefix "bath-" is a combining form that originates from the Greek "bathýs" (βαθύς), meaning "deep". When used as a prefix, "bath-" adds the concept of depth or profundity to the root word it attaches to. In the case of "bathetic", it signifies a depth of emotion or feeling.
Similar spelling words for BATHETIC
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