Bathos
/ˈbeɪ.θɒs/noun
An abrupt turn from the serious to the trivial or ridiculous in writing or speech.
Did you know?The term 'bathos' originated from the Greek word for 'depth', revealing how profound ideas can sometimes lead to absurdity.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
βάθος (bathos)
“depth, seriousness, or profoundness.”
19th Century
English
bathos
“used to describe an abrupt transition from the lofty to the mundane.”
Modern English
English
bathos
“a rhetorical term for an anticlimax, often seen in literature and art.”
19th Century
English
bathos
“noted in literary criticism for its ironic or absurd effect.”