sentimentalism

[ sen-tuh-men-tl-iz-uh m ]

/ ˌsɛn təˈmɛn tlˌɪz əm /

sentimental tendency or character; predominance of sentiment over reason.

weak emotionalism; excessive indulgence in sentiment.

a display of sentimentality.

Origin of sentimentalism

First recorded in 1810–20; sentimental + -ism

o·ver·sen·ti·men·tal·ism, noun

It is more than the mere piece of sentimentalism which it may seem to some readers.

Talks To Teachers On Psychology; And To Students On Some Of Life's Ideals |William James
Instead they took refuge in sentimentalism and in remote times and places.

A History of American Literature |Percy H. Boynton
If their sentimentalism is sometimes wearisome, it is grounded on genuine feeling and expressed with passionate eloquence.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 |Various
In former days people were less besmeared with sentimentalism.

A Mummer's Tale |Anatole France

I know what you are thinking: that you will refuse to work with me because—because of a foolish Anglo-Saxon sentimentalism!

Caravans By Night |Harry Hervey

sentimentalism

/ (ˌsɛntɪˈmɛntəˌlɪzəm) /

the state or quality of being sentimental

an act, statement, etc, that is sentimental

sentimentalist, noun