Gestalt: Meaning and Origin
“Gestalt” (German for “form” or “shape”) refers to an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts. It comes from Gestalt psychology (early 20th century, Germany), which holds that the mind perceives patterns and structures holistically rather than as isolated elements — e.g., you see a face, not a collection of dots and lines. In everyday usage, it means the overall character or essence of something — the unified impression it creates. ...