Arcadia

usgb/ɑːrˈkeɪdiə/
noun

A place or condition of great happiness where everything is simple and unspoiled.

She had always thought of her childhood as an Arcadia, but now she wasn't quite so sure.
Visual representation of "arcadia" - A place or condition of great happiness where everything is simple and unspoiled.

Often appears as...

  • lost arcadia
  • life's arcadia

Usage tips

Literary

Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "arcadia"
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Literary Usage

Often found in literature to describe places or times of idealized happiness and simplicity.

Illustration for Literary Usage
The novel painted the countryside as a pure arcadia.
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Past Perfect

Used to evoke nostalgia for a past seen as idyllic, whether real or imagined.

Illustration for Past Perfect
Grandpa would recount tales from an arcadia long gone.
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Negative Contrast

May be juxtaposed with a present that is complex or flawed to highlight differences.

Illustration for Negative Contrast
He felt the city's chaos deeply, longing for arcadia.
Visual representation of the word "Arcadia"

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