Stylistics
Historicism
A historicism is an obsolete word that has fallen out of active use together with the disappearance of the reality it denoted — an object, phenomenon, office or custom of past ages: "chain mail," "a peasant coat," "a village head," "a tithe," "serfdom." Unlike archaisms, historicisms have no modern synonyms, because the concepts themselves have receded into the past, and so they are the only names of the corresponding historical realia. In literature, especially in the historical novel and tale, historicisms reproduce the authentic colouring of the depicted age, lend the narrative verisimilitude and immerse the reader in the atmosphere of the past. Historicisms are an important source for the study of the material and spiritual culture of a people, a subject of historical lexicology, cultural linguistics and the stylistics of historical prose.
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Compare “Historicism” with another term
Meaning, origins and distinction — side by side.
Distinction
Both are obsolete words, but with a key difference. An archaism has a MODERN synonym, because the concept still exists (only the word is old-fashioned), so it is stylistically marked and serves solemnity or stylisation. A historicism has NO equivalent, because the reality itself has vanished (chain mail, serfdom), and is the only name of the departed object. The first is about the word; the second, about the vanished thing.
