Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A clerk in a public office.
- noun One who adheres strictly to forms and routine in official or other business.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun One who is tenacious of a strict adherence to official formalities.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun archaic One who strictly adheres to
official formalities .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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But, a red-tapist by nature, and hating innovations, owing to weakness of mind, he trembled inwardly and cried in agony:
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Spartacus caused ropes to be made of vine branches, with the aid of which he and his followers lowered themselves to the base of the mountain, at a point which had been left unguarded by the Romans because considered inaccessible by the red-tapist who commanded them, and consequently affording a capital outlet for bold men under a daring leader.
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But, a red-tapist by nature, and hating innovations, owing to weakness of mind, he trembled inwardly and cried in agony:
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I fear I clearly see that for years to come domestic reforms are shaken to the root; every miserable red-tapist flourishes war over the head of every protester against his humbug; and everything connected with it is pushed to such an unreasonable extent, that, however kind and necessary it may be in itself, it becomes ridiculous.
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Aristocracy, military, naval, or red-tapist; wherever there are born kings of men, you had better seek them out, and breed them to this work.
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"Not a doubt of that," chimed in the fellow ex-minister, a worthy man, perfect red-tapist, but inaudible in the reporters 'gallery.
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"Not a doubt of that," chimed in the fellow ex-minister, a worthy man, perfect red-tapist, but inaudible in the reporters 'gallery.
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Simple as the question seems, it may be doubted, considering the remarkable increase of late years in the number of John Bull's colonial progeny, whether the most experienced red-tapist of Downing Street could answer it without some hesitation.
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 447 Volume 18, New Series, July 24, 1852
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"And the Lansmere interest need not be beaten, if you'll put up another man instead of this red-tapist.
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You seem a smart young fellow; but you must throw over that stiff red-tapist of yours, and go with Public Opinion, and -- Myself. "
qms commented on the word red-tapist
The office of humor correction
Has experts at offense detection.
Each earnest red-tapist
Maintains a bad-jape list
Of jokes that will cause an objection.
See also comments at red-tapism.
October 27, 2016