Posted on 07/05/2012 4:36:02 AM PDT by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
mumpsimus \MUHMP-suh-muhs\ , noun
1. Adherence to or persistence in an erroneous use of language, memorization, practice, belief, etc., out of habit or obstinacy.
2. A person who persists in a mistaken expression or practice.
Example sentences:
"I profess, my good lady," replied I, "that had any one but you made such a declaration, I should have thought it as capricious as that of the clergyman, who, without vindicating his false reading, preferred, from habit's sake, his old Mumpsimus...
-- Sir Walter Scott, The Talisman
Mr. Burgess, who sticks (I fancy) to his old mumpsimus, thought that the other gentleman might have given the canoe a shove to get it clear of the lock…
-- Ronald A. Knox, The Footsteps at the Lock
Etymology:
Mumpsimus comes from a story (perhaps first told by Erasmus) about an illiterate priest who mispronounced a word while reciting the liturgy. The priest refused to change the word, even when he was corrected.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
Well done!
Pardon my weak Spanish but isn’t derecha right and derecho straight? My tapes have lots of driving instructions and slams against North Americans.
A+ for you. We’re all racists, according to them.
I love how your mind works. A for you.
directionally speaking, i guess you are right, but the word for Human Rights is most def DERECHOS HUMANOS, not derechas humanas, so it still doesn’t make sense to me!
I’m so glad he’s not on TV all the time any more. A+ for you.
A+ for you and for those wondering, I called my county courthouse when I got back from my run and they said just to come in an register this week, no problem. I forgot about and missed my jury summons on Monday.
AND register. Sheesh, learn to type, will you?
That used to happen to me a lot when I was young.
ACK! TMI!
bfl
thanks sg
I always thought that having two words so close to each other for directions “straight” and “right” was pretty stupid. Even more so to be differentiated by an “o” or an “a” in a language which uses such as a suffix for gender.
just so that’s not your behind in those holey jeans!!!! LMAO! pretty cool!
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