Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A surname of German origin: "Ernst" is primarily used as a last name.
   • Max Ernst (1891-1976): A specific, notable person bearing this name; a German-born painter and sculptor who was a key figure in the Dada and Surrealist movements, known for pioneering techniques like frottage and grattage.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (referring to the artist):
  • The museum is hosting a major exhibition of works by Ernst.
  • Ernst's innovative use of collage influenced a generation of artists.

Advanced Usage

• "an Ernst": Can be used to refer to a work of art created by Max Ernst.
  • The gallery acquired an important Ernst from his early period.

Variants and Related Words

• Ernstian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of the work or style of Max Ernst.
  • The film has a distinctly Ernstian, dreamlike quality.

Synonyms

• The artist: (when context clearly refers to Max Ernst)
• Max Ernst: The full name.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "Ernst" is almost exclusively encountered as a proper noun. Its most common and significant usage in English is in reference to the 20th-century artist Max Ernst. It is not used as a common noun with a general definition. When capitalized, it functions solely as a name.

Noun

1. painter (born in Germany, resident of France and the United States) who was a cofounder of dadaism; developed the technique of collage (1891-1976)