timonism

English - English

Definition of timonism in English English dictionary

A form of bitter misanthropy, a despair leading to hatred or contemptuous rejection of mankind, like Timon of Athens|Timon of Athens]]

This most cruel betrayal led him to Timonism.

A bitter or cynical utterance or behavior, in the manner of Timon of Athens|Timon of Athens]]

Pay no attention to his Timonisms, it's a pose.

Synonyms

misanthropy

Etymology

() Timon +‎ -ism, from the 5th-century BC person Timon of Athens (person)|Timon of Athens]] (as described by Plutarch, Lucian, Aristophanes), possibly by way of William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare]]'s play Timon of Athens|Timon of Athens]] (c. 1607). Used in the Westminster Review|Westminster Review]] (maybe after the earlier "Timonist") in a 1840 review. (Coining erroneously attributed to Herman Melville|Herman Melville]], who popularized it later in 1852.)