Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An error obstinately clung to; a prejudice.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A person who obstinately adheres to old ways in spite of clear evidence that they are wrong; an ignorant and bigoted opponent of reform.
  • noun An obvious error that is obstinately repeated despite correction.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a traditional notion that is obstinately held although it is unreasonable

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Malapropism of Latin sumpsimus, as noted by Desiderius Erasmus of a monk who recited liturgy

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Examples

  • On August 18, 2003, I wrote the first post of this blog, a definition of the word "mumpsimus".

    Five Years 2008

  • On August 18, 2003, I wrote the first post of this blog, a definition of the word "mumpsimus".

    Archive 2008-08-01 2008

  • *Pronunciation is another thing entirely; I have discovered over the past few years that, despite its phoneticity, actually saying the word "mumpsimus" is quite difficult for most people.

    In a Name 2006

  • *Pronunciation is another thing entirely; I have discovered over the past few years that, despite its phoneticity, actually saying the word "mumpsimus" is quite difficult for most people.

    Archive 2006-04-01 2006

  • I Googled "mumpsimus" after reading this story b/c I thought it'd be a better name for my blog than "farragos".

    In a Name 2006

  • "But Edward is a hotter little reformist than Elizabeth, who abides strictly by her father's middle way and says'taking Henry's words from his last speech to Parliament'that she will be neither 'mumpsimus' nor 'sumpsimus' but worship God without argument."

    Ill Met By Moonlight Lackey, Mercedes 2005

  • I also hoped the title might cause some people to look up and thinking about the definition of the word "mumpsimus", the choice of which was a coy way for me to try to avoid all presumptions of accuracy from the get-go.

    We Who are About To... 2004

  • I also hoped the title might cause some people to look up and thinking about the definition of the word "mumpsimus", the choice of which was a coy way for me to try to avoid all presumptions of accuracy from the get-go.

    Archive 2004-02-01 2004

  • His {565} own anecdote of the old priest who, having the misprint "mumpsimus" for

    The Age of the Reformation Preserved Smith 1910

  • Although "mumpsimus" is the very motto for the Russian schismatics, and although ignorance and superstition were the root of the matter, they combined with a dread of arbitrary change by an arbitrary power, and supplied a basis for resistance to Erastianism and the fusion of Church and State.

    Lectures on Modern history John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton Acton 1868

Comments

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  • Oh my God, where has this word been all my life.

    March 27, 2008

  • ... wow ...

    March 27, 2008

  • A humorous medieval corruption of the Latin word sumpsimus, as detailed here.

    July 18, 2008

  • Wow, I love its etymology, thanks for the link!

    July 18, 2008

  • A trump to the limit is trumpsimus,

    If trumpier outright presumptuous.

    But Trump in the rough

    Is trumpy enough

    For chumps and their comforting mumpsimus.

    January 19, 2017

  • *thunderous applause*

    January 22, 2017

  • Thank you, bilby.

    January 22, 2017