Donnian

9.9

In the style of the poet John Donne, showing clever wordplay and deep thought

adjective
/ˈdɒniən/

Literature

: donniano

Her poetry took a distinctly Donnian turn, full of wit and metaphysical conceits.

Examples

Her writing often reflects Donnian themes of love and mortality.
Many imitators struggle to achieve the subtlety of Donnian language and imagery.
The critic admired the Donnian qualities in the novel’s introspective narrative voice.
The poem had a distinctly Donnian style.
The scholar praised the Donnian elements in the poet's work, noting their depth and complexity.
Critics often describe his verses as having a Donnian flair, filled with intricate ideas and rich language.
In her latest collection, she explores Donnian themes that evoke both passion and philosophical inquiry.

Synonyms

Donnean

vsDonnian

Literature

9.9

Relating to the poems of John Donne, showing clever ideas and strong images

is the same meaning but appears in a different spelling form

Surface Forms

Donnian positive

Morphology

Donnian = Donne (transparent) = Donne + ian

Formed by the regular adjectival suffix '-ian' from the proper name Donne, so the meaning is directly 'relating to John Donne or his style'.

Etymology

Donnian comes from the name of the English poet Donne, John Donne. It means 'like the poems or style of John Donne', often full of clever thought, strong feeling, and surprising images, so calling something Donnian says it has those qualities.