Rockwellesque

English

Norman Rockwell.

Etymology

Etymology tree

English Rockwell

Proto-Indo-European *-iskos

Proto-Germanic *-iskaz

Proto-West Germanic *-iskbor.

Vulgar Latin -iscus

Italian -escobor.

French -esquebor.

English -esque

English Rockwellesque

From Rockwell + -esque.

Adjective

Rockwellesque (comparative more Rockwellesque, superlative most Rockwellesque)

1. (chiefly US) Characteristic of the artwork of Norman Rockwell, particularly his idealistic, quaint, or sentimental portrayals of American life.

   Synonym: Rockwellian

   • 1980. Washington Post, 6 Apr 1980, G1:

     It's an oasis in the midst of a concrete jungle,' said Dowd, a gaunt, ruddy-faced Norman Rockwellesque figure.

   • 1994. Vanity Fair, July 1994, 113/1:

     Afterward, there is a Norman Rockwellesque church supper.

   • 2001. Modesto Bee, 23 Nov 2001, B8:

     I saw a rather disturbing cartoon on the Opinion page today..a Norman Rockwellesque family sitting down to a serving of bin Laden.

References

• "Norman Rockwellesque". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. 1989.