Vogues

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A prevailing fashion or trend in styles or behavior
2. An influential or popular stance, particularly in the realm of culture or lifestyle
3. A temporary popularity often characterized by distinctive characteristics that capture the public's attention

Etymology: The noun in question traces back to the French word "vogue," which originally meant "wave" or "course of a ship." This maritime sense captured the idea of something in motion or progression, much like the waves of the sea. Over time, the word took on a more abstract sense, referring to the prevailing fashion or style that "flows" through society, much like a current in the water. By the late 16th century, English borrowed "vogue" from French, initially retaining the sense of "a current" or "trend." It soon became associated more specifically with the transient nature of fashion and popular taste, emphasizing how styles come and go like waves rolling in and out. The plural form, as seen in your example, simply refers to multiple trends or fashions prevailing at different times or in varied contexts. This metaphorical leap from a physical wave to a social movement of styles showcases how language can transform concrete imagery into abstract concepts. The word’s journey from the natural world into the realm of culture highlights the fluidity of meaning that often accompanies borrowed terms. The sense of something "in vogue" remains a vivid reminder of that original connection to movement and change.

Synonyms: fashions, trends, styles, crazes, fads

Antonyms: outdatedness, obsolescence, unfashionability, old-fashionedness, stagnation