a. and sb. [ad. L. Asiāticus, a. Gr. Ἀσιᾱτικός, f. Ἀσία: see -ATIC.] A. adj. Of or pertaining to Asia or its inhabitants; formerly used to describe a florid and imaginative literary style. B. sb. A native of Asia. † Asiatall, † Asiatical a., = ASIATIC. Asiatically adv., in Asiatic manner, in accordance with Asiatic customs. † Asiatican a. and sb., = ASIATIC. Asiaticism, imitation of Asiatic usage, an Asiatic phrase. Asiaticize, improperly Asiatize v., to make Asiatic, to conform to Asiatic customs.
1631. Massinger, Beleeve as You List, I. ii. Theis *Asiaticq marchants, whom you looke on With such contempt.
1752. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Style, The antients made a notable distinction of styles, into Laconic, and Asiatic.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., ii. 62. It is Asiatic prose, as the Ancient Critics would have said; prose somewhat barbarously rich and overloaded.
1634. T. Herbert, Trav., 330 (T.). Such are the fanatick dogmata of the Alcoran, credited by most *Asiaticks.
1834. Penny Cycl., I. 473. These Greeks have long ago been changed into Asiatics.
1615. trans. De Monfart’s Surv. E. Indies, 10. A true *asiatall Magnificence.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. iv. § 5. 26. His luxurious and Asiaticall Oration vnto King Hezechiah.
1836. Landor, in Athenæum, No. 441. 254. Speaking by metaphor and *asiatically.
1869. Mrq. Salisbury, in Echo, 12 March. If we are to govern Asiatics well, we must govern them Asiatically.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits (1616), 200. The *Asiaticans … bare themselues verie couragiously.
1637. Gillespie, Eng.-Pop. Cerem., I. ix. 32. The Asiatican Doctors.
1774. T. Warton, Eng. Poetry (1840), I. Diss. i. 24. Nor is this fantastic imagery the only mark of *Asiaticism, which appears in the Runic odes.
1882. Vanity Fair, 28 Oct., 250/1. The lay Parsee is, to use an expressive *Asiaticism, his belly-god.
1847. Grote, Greece, II. xxxii. IV. 332. Half-*asiatised Hellenism. Ibid. (1856), II. xciv. XII. 359. He was tending to *asiatize Macedonia. Ibid., 324. These *Asiatising marriages.
