ethos

Meaning

1. The character or fundamental values of a person, people, culture, or movement.
2. A form of rhetoric in which the writer or speaker invokes their authority, competence or expertise in an attempt to persuade others that their view is correct.
3. The traits in a work of art which express the ideal or typic character, as influenced by the ethos (character or fundamental values) of a people, rather than emotional situations or individual character traits in a narrow sense; opposed to pathos.

Synonyms

character

civilization

guise

manners

mien

morals

tradition

traits

culture

ethics

atmosphere

third-term tradition

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈiːθɒs/

Etymology

Cognate with Sanskrit: स्वधा

In summary

From Ancient Greek ἦθος (êthos, “character; custom, habit”). Cognate to Sanskrit स्वधा (svádhā, “habit, custom”).