Words of Art

The vocabulary or terminology of a particular art, science, or profession, particularly those expressions that are peculiar to it.

Though a society may share a common language, there are many specialized uses of words based on human activities. An examination of any profession, for example, will yield many expressions that are idiomatic or peculiar to it. For the person working within the profession, these become words of art, which usually convey a meaning much different from the normal use of these words, or which may be completely baffling to an outsider.

Because the law is based on the expression of language, it contains thousands of words of art. Many persons working outside the legal profession would recognize that "taking the Fifth" means that a person is asserting his or her protection against Self-Incrimination under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. However, very few persons would understand that an appellant is the party bringing an appeal, while a respondent is the party against whom the appeal is taken. Appellant and respondent are words of art.

Cross-references

Term of Art.

words of art

n. 1) specialized language with meaning peculiar to a particular profession, art, technical work, science or other field of endeavor. 2) jargon known only to people who specialize in a particular occupation.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

If they would, for example, praise the beauty of a woman, or any other animal, they describe it by rhombs, circles, parallelograms, ellipses, and other geometrical terms, or by words of art drawn from music, needless here to repeat.

View in context

The words of art critic John Ruskin, quoted above, allude to Lewis's artistic mission and provide an unexpected link between the disciplines of art and science: In Lewis's meticulous attention to detail and in the careful research of this month's scientists, we witness the tireless pursuit of truth.

Truth in the details

In the words of art historian Maymanah Farhat, "In its captions, the department (of Islamic art, Metropolitan Museum of Art) takes great care to describe the "lavish," "sumptuous," and "superb" qualities of these objects, bringing to mind the brand of "documentation" that is a staple of the antiques market.

Art of Reverence - Revisited - Recently Expanded Islamic Galleries at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the words of art historian Edward Luice Smith, Naqsh re-absorbs Ingres and re-forges links to the sensuous tradition that plays so large a part in Mughal miniature painting.

Pakistans top contemporary artists holds solo show

of Calgary) introduces this collection of six translated essays and a biographical essay that brings to English-speaking audiences recent French "word-and- image" studies of the ways in which the images and words of art and everyday life interact.

Words and images; a French rendez-vous

They are words of art and should be taken as such, with the agent or broker advising his or her client to think about the worst-case scenario when purchasing insurance and that the agent or broker is not a person who can properly and totally calculate the cost to repair.

Imperfect cost guide raises questions

Its corridors decorated with precious words of art, vases and tapestries, The Duke's charm lies in its attention to detail.

Roman conquest

In some respects, the three terms are words of art, and general comments in the OECD Guidelines may help to confine these references principally to objective commercial, market, and business factors affecting a taxpayer's pricing.

Canadian transfer pricing rules keep pace with international developments

Further, as a new chapter to the Code, it would have undoubtedly been ripe for potentially conflicting interpretations and cry out for clarification of new words of art used in the statute, thus resulting in protracted litigation over many of the provisions of the new chapter.

Bankruptcy reform is changing the legal profession

In the words of art critic Guy Brett, "This was a figure for the process by which Brazil 'swallowed' various world cultures in order to create its own, not in a predatory fashion but in a spirit of anti-colonialist rebellion.

Feast for the eyes: the art of Rivane Neuenschwander

the Worcester County Poetry Association will read poems inspired by the exhibit theme - and create their own words of art.