Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Word For The Day, Thursday, July 5, 2012 - mumpsimus
distionaries ad nauseam | 5 July 2012 | Thursday's sub

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 Threads:

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!


TOPICS: Word For The Day
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last
To: xsmommy
A+ for you and anyone short of Helen Thomas is too good-looking for him.
21 posted on 07/05/2012 7:15:44 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Paine in the Neck
Welcome to WFTD!
22 posted on 07/05/2012 7:17:02 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

Well done!


23 posted on 07/05/2012 7:17:59 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: xsmommy

Pardon my weak Spanish but isn’t derecha right and derecho straight? My tapes have lots of driving instructions and slams against North Americans.


24 posted on 07/05/2012 7:22:11 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: TruthShallSetYouFree
Big Bay Boom. Short and sweet.
25 posted on 07/05/2012 7:25:52 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: secret garden
From the mumpsimus(es) over at Homeland Gestapo; Homeland Security-Funded Study Lists People ‘Reverent of Individual Liberty’ as Terrorists
26 posted on 07/05/2012 7:36:30 AM PDT by NeoCaveman ("If I had a son he'd look like B.O.'s lunch" - Rin Tin Tin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TruthShallSetYouFree

A+ for you. We’re all racists, according to them.


27 posted on 07/05/2012 7:57:37 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: count-your-change

I love how your mind works. A for you.


28 posted on 07/05/2012 7:58:43 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: secret garden

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!


29 posted on 07/05/2012 8:00:48 AM PDT by xsmommy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: mikrofon

I’m so glad he’s not on TV all the time any more. A+ for you.


30 posted on 07/05/2012 8:14:19 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: NeoCaveman

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.


31 posted on 07/05/2012 8:17:40 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: secret garden

AND register. Sheesh, learn to type, will you?


32 posted on 07/05/2012 8:25:46 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: secret garden
an inadvertent signal set off the explosions about five minutes early and caused the entire 18 minute show to take place in about 15 seconds.

That used to happen to me a lot when I was young.

33 posted on 07/05/2012 8:26:20 AM PDT by TruthShallSetYouFree (If a gay guy wants a man date, give him a tax.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: TruthShallSetYouFree

ACK! TMI!


34 posted on 07/05/2012 8:35:21 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: secret garden

bfl

thanks sg


35 posted on 07/05/2012 8:35:21 AM PDT by Fightin Whitey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: secret garden
So, you want a mumpsimus
Here is a lefty favorite I guess
All welfare helps the poor
And we won't have any more
If only the rich give more not less
36 posted on 07/05/2012 10:09:34 AM PDT by doubled ( never in the field of human con tricks has so much been owed by so many to so little effect - Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xsmommy; secret garden

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.


37 posted on 07/05/2012 10:18:28 AM PDT by SoothingDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: xsmommy

http://www.yajagoff.com/

I’m famous today.


38 posted on 07/05/2012 10:19:58 AM PDT by SoothingDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: SoothingDave

just so that’s not your behind in those holey jeans!!!! LMAO! pretty cool!


39 posted on 07/05/2012 10:30:20 AM PDT by xsmommy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: SoothingDave
wondered where ya were, thought maybe ya blew yinzselves up with a firework.
40 posted on 07/05/2012 10:33:01 AM PDT by xsmommy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson