Word of the Day 5.24.08

kitsch (kch)

n.

1. Sentimentality or vulgar, often pretentious bad taste, especially in the arts: “When money tries to buy beauty it tends to purchase a kind of courteous kitsch” William H. Gass.

2. An example or examples of kitsch.

adj.

Of, being, or characterized by kitsch: “The kitsch kitchen … has aqua-and-white gingham curtains and rubber duck-yellow walls painted in a fried-egg motif” Suzanne Cassidy.


[German, probably of dialectal origin.]


kitschi·fy v.

kitschy adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Share

Posted on May 24, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | 2 Comments »