hergesheimer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareLiterary/Academic
Quick answer
What does “hergesheimer” mean?
A proper noun: American novelist, biographer and historian known for his naturalistic style.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun: American novelist, biographer and historian known for his naturalistic style.
Used attributively to refer to a style of writing characterized by detailed realism and a focus on the social environment, following Joseph Hergesheimer's approach.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The name is recognised in both British and American literary circles, but its usage is extremely limited in both. It has no divergent spellings or meanings between dialects.
Connotations
Connotes early 20th-century American literature, naturalism, and a focus on affluent or upper-class settings (in Hergesheimer's case). Slightly archaic.
Frequency
Usage is nearly zero in both dialects. It would only appear in specialised texts.
Grammar
How to Use “hergesheimer” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun]Hergesheimer's [Noun][Adjective] HergesheimerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hergesheimer” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The essay examined the Hergesheimer approach to character detail.
American English
- His prose had a distinctly Hergesheimer quality of opulent description.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in literary history courses or papers discussing early 20th-century American naturalism.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
A term in literary criticism.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hergesheimer”
- Misspelling: Hergensheimer, Hergeshiemer. Confusing with other naturalists like Dreiser or Norris.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare proper noun (a surname) referring to a specific American author, Joseph Hergesheimer (1880-1954).
Only in very specialised literary contexts, meaning 'in the style of Joseph Hergesheimer.' It is not a standard adjective.
In American English, it is approximately pronounced 'HER-guss-hy-mer'. The stress is on the first syllable.
It serves as an example of a highly specialised, low-frequency lexical item, demonstrating that not all dictionary entries are for common words. It tests understanding of proper nouns and literary terminology.
A proper noun: American novelist, biographer and historian known for his naturalistic style.
Hergesheimer is usually literary/academic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HER GES (guests) HEIMER (home-maker): Think of a writer who details the lives of guests in a wealthy home-maker's setting.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRITING IS PAINTING A DETAILED PORTRAIT (reflecting Hergesheimer's elaborate, descriptive style).
Practice
Quiz
Joseph Hergesheimer is best described as a(n):