WORD FOR THE DAY

Your word for today is: mumpsimus, n. and adj.

mumpsimus, n. and adj.
 
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈmʌm(p)sᵻməs/,  U.S. /ˈməm(p)səməs/
 
Forms:  15 mumsimusses plural,   15 mumsymussis plural,   15 mumpsimus,   16 mumsimus.
 
Etymology: <  post-classical Latin mumpsimus (1517 in R. Pace De Fructu), use as noun of mumpsimus, an error for classical Latin sumpsimus ‘we have taken’ (see sumpsimus n.), apparently in allusion to the story (1516 in Erasmus) of an illiterate English priest, who when corrected for reading ‘quod ore mumpsimus’ in the Mass, replied, ‘I will not change my old mumpsimus for your new sumpsimus’.
 
 A. n.
 1.
 
 a.  A person who obstinately adheres to old ways in spite of clear evidence that they are wrong; an ignorant and bigoted opponent of reform.
 
1530  Tyndale Pract. Prelates sig. Hv, The chauncelars of englond..which be all lawers, and other doctoures mumsimusses of diuinyte were called vpp sodenlye to dispute the mater.
 
1553  E. Underhill in  J. G. Nichols Narr. Reform. (1859) 141 Yff yow loke amonge the pristes in Poolles, ye shall fynde some old mumsymussis ther.

1847 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 398 The novel sumpsimus was discarded ignominiously; the old mumpsimus resumed his ancient sway.
 
1921 19th Cent. Oct. 635 If that were so, I should indeed be the mumpsimus that some youngsters may think I am.
 
1995 Interzone Feb. 55/2 Machen..had become something of a mumpsimus in the deranging aftermath of the Great War.
 
†b.  derogatory. An old person. Also: = mumps n.1 Obs.
 
1573  G. Gascoigne tr.  Ariosto Supposes i. iii, in Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 11 And if this olde Mumpsimus..should wyn hir, then may I saye,..farewel the sight of my Polynesta.
 
1596  T. Lodge Wits Miserie 37 The next of this progenie is Vnlawfull lucre, looke what a handsome Mumpsimus shee is, will you know her profession?
 
1691  T. Shadwell Scowrers ii. i. 9 Eugenia. [To Priscilla, her governess.] Did she so old Mumpsimus.
 
1815 Zeluca I. 336 He showed me into a room with some mumpsimuses
 
 2.  A traditional custom or notion obstinately adhered to, however unreasonable it is shown to be; stubborn archaism, esp. in speech or language.
 
1531  T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xiv. sig. c5v, This worde Magnanimitie..shall nat content all men, and specially them, whome nothing contenteth out of their accustomed Mumpsimus.
 
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. cclxjv, Some be to stiffe in their old Mumpsimus, other be to busy and curious, in their newe Sumpsimus.
 
1626  W. Vaughan Golden Fleece iii. xii. 88 Why dost thou smite..Our eares with thy discourse?.. Thy Mumsimus, thy murmurs here None will but dizzards heare.
 
1669  W. Penn No Cross, No Crown (1682) ii. §9 35 A by-rote Mumpsimus, a dull and insipid Formality, made up of corporal bowings and Cringings.
 
1732  S. Wesley Parish Priest (ed. 2) 11 They saw the worthless Abjects lifted high, Empty alike of Learning and of Brain, As if the Pope had re-assum'd his Reign, And brought our ancient Mumpsimus again.
 
1855 Edinb. Rev. Oct. 432 It classes..with the popish priest's obstinate adherence to his old mumpsimus.
 
1859  F. W. Farrar Julian Home vii. 86 Let all violent supporters of their old mumpsimus against any new sumpsimus whatever, listen to a conversation among some undergraduates.
 
1862  J. Keble in  H. P. Liddon et al.  Life E. B. Pusey (1897) IV. i. 25, I still hold to my old mumpsimus that the Prayer Book being what it is we cannot be unchurched by mere abuse or default of discipline.
 
1933 Sun(Baltimore) 21 July 12/6 Dr. Alfred E. Smith's ‘raddio’ is an international joke, but Al is a shrewd enough showman to know that this mumpsimus is excellent publicity.
 
1964  C. P. Snow Corridors of Power xxii. 181 She spoke with an extreme display of mumpsimus, persisting confidently in error.
 
1978 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts 126 366/2 The knell for the essential crafts of Africa is sounding out rather loud and clear and it would be an argument of mumpsimus to declare otherwise.
 
†B. adj.
  
Obstinately conservative. Obs.
 
1680  R. Bolron Narr. 9 The Jesuits..are the most Zealous for the propagation of their Religion in their old Mumpsimus Way.
 
a1763  J. Byrom Poems (1894) I. 516 The more Sense in Readings, the less they will own 'em; You must leave to these Sages their mumpsimus ‘Nonum’.
 
1821  S. Smith Wks. (1859) I. 330/2 All the fat and sleek people..the mumpsimus, and ‘well as we are’ people, are perfectly outrageous at being compelled to do their duty.

Written by NativeEnglish

Native English Spain is dedicated to make learning English simple, fun and affordable for Spanish people.