Dictionary.com Word Of The Day
MARCH 27, 2017
mumpsimus,
noun
[MUHMP-suh-muh s]
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).
MORE FROM DICTIONARY.COM WEIRD WORDS
Blech!
These are the grossest words in English. WAYS TO SAY
OMG
Texting acronyms FTW WEIRD WORDS
The best insults.
12 brilliant comebacks to stun your least favorite people.QUOTESAnother
misnomer in which the news media perseverate is "Fighting Irish."
Surely that must be a prime example of mumpsimus, the pig-headed
persistence in error.
-- Leon C. Chesley, "Vocabulary Test for Football," New York Times,
November 28, 1993 ORIGINMumpsimus entered English 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) while reciting the liturgy, and refused to
change the word when corrected.