Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'preciosity'

English Word: preciosity

Key Russian Translations:

• прециозность [prʲɪˈtsʲɵznəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Literary]

Frequency: Low (This word and its Russian equivalents are rarely used in everyday conversation, primarily appearing in literary or academic contexts.)

Difficulty: Advanced (C1) - Requires familiarity with Russian literary terminology and grammar; suitable for advanced learners due to its specialized nature.

Pronunciation (Russian):

прециозность: [prʲɪˈtsʲɵznəsʲtʲ]

Note on прециозность: The stress falls on the third syllable ("tsʲɵz"), and the "ʲ" indicates palatalization, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft "r" and "ts" sounds similar to the "ts" in "tsar".

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Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Excessive refinement or affectation in language, behavior, or style, often with a connotation of artificiality.

Translation(s) & Context:

• прециозность - Used in formal, literary, or critical contexts to describe overly ornate or pretentious expressions, such as in 17th-century French-influenced Russian literature.

Usage Examples:

• Его речи полны прециозности, что делает их трудными для восприятия.

  His speeches are full of preciosity, making them difficult to understand.

• В поэзии XVII века прециозность была модным стилем, но сейчас она кажется устаревшей.

  In 17th-century poetry, preciosity was a fashionable style, but now it seems outdated.

• Прециозность в её манерах отпугивала собеседников.

  The preciosity in her manners repelled her conversation partners.

• Критики обвинили роман в излишней прециозности языка.

  Critics accused the novel of excessive preciosity in its language.

• В современном искусстве прециозность иногда используется как ироничный элемент.

  In modern art, preciosity is sometimes used as an ironic element.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Прециозность" is a feminine noun (feminine gender, third declension in Russian). It follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns, with changes based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The word is invariant in terms of stress across cases, but palatalization (soft consonants) must be maintained for correct pronunciation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возвышенность (vozvyshennost' - emphasizes elevated or lofty style, often with a positive connotation)
  • изысканность (izyskannost' - suggests refinement but can be more neutral)
• Antonyms:
  • простота (prostota - simplicity, contrasting with artificial refinement)
  • грубость (grubost' - crudeness, highlighting a lack of polish)

Related Phrases:

• стиль прециозности - Style of preciosity; refers to a literary movement, often used in discussions of historical literature.
• прециозная манера - Precious manner; describes affected behavior in social contexts.
• эпоха прециозности - Era of preciosity; alludes to the 17th-century French influence on Russian culture.

Usage Notes:

This Russian translation corresponds closely to the English "preciosity" in its literary and critical senses, emphasizing artificial elegance. It is typically restricted to formal or academic contexts, such as literary analysis, and should be avoided in casual conversation to prevent sounding pretentious. When choosing between synonyms like "изысканность," opt for "прециозность" if the connotation is negative or overly refined. Grammatically, always ensure correct case agreement, e.g., in genitive constructions like "стиля прециозности."

• Commonly paired with adjectives like "излишняя" (excessive) to mirror the English word's pejorative undertone.
• In modern usage, it may carry historical baggage from French literary traditions, so context is key.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the word in the wrong case, e.g., saying "о прециозность" instead of "о прециозности" (genitive case). Correct: "О прециозности в литературе" (About preciosity in literature). Explanation: Russian nouns require case agreement with prepositions, and beginners often overlook this, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing it with similar words like "прелесть" (charm), resulting in misuse such as "Его стиль имеет прелесть" when meaning preciosity. Correct: "Его стиль имеет прециозность." Explanation: "Прелесть" implies positive attractiveness, whereas "прециозность" suggests artificiality, so context must guide word choice to avoid semantic mismatches.

Cultural Notes:

"Прециозность" is deeply rooted in Russian literary history, borrowed from French "préciosité," which originated in 17th-century salons where women emphasized refined language and manners. In Russia, it influenced writers like those in the Silver Age, symbolizing both cultural sophistication and criticism of superficiality. Understanding this helps English speakers appreciate its ironic or nostalgic use in contemporary Russian media.

Related Concepts:

• барокко (baroque - referring to ornate artistic styles)
• маньеризм (mannerism - excessive stylistic affectation)
• классицизм (classicism - a contrasting, more balanced style)