Friday, December 7, 2012

Mumpsimus

mump·si·mus  [muhmp-suh-muh s] noun, plural mump·si·mus·es for 2. 
1. adherence to or persistence in an erroneous use of language, memorization, practice, belief, etc., out of habit or obstinacy ( opposed to sumpsimus ). 
2. a person who persists in a mistaken expression or practice ( opposed to sumpsimus ). 

Origin: 1520–30;  from a story, which perhaps originated with Erasmus, of an illiterate priest who said mumpsimus  rather than sūmpsimus  (1st plural perfect indicative of Latin sūmere  to pick up; see consume) while reciting the liturgy, and refused to change the word when corrected 


No comments:

Post a Comment