Nincompoop origin

Another frequent spelling through 18c. Despite the similarity [noted by Johnson] to the Latin legal phrase non compos mentis "insane, nincompoop origin, mentally incompetent" c.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary. WOTD — 30 April Declaring their several Natures, Manners, and Constitutions; the occasion why this Ship was built, with the places of their intended Voyage, and a lift of the Officers that bear Command therein [book title]. O you huffing Son of a Whore. You rotten Jack in a box. You foul mouth'd Nickumpoop.

Nincompoop origin

Nicodemus secretly visited Jesus one night to hear about his teachings. The Access to the complete content on Oxford Reference requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter without a subscription. Please subscribe or login to access full text content. If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code. For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs , and if you can''t find the answer there, please contact us. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single entry from a reference work in OR for personal use for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice. Personal Profile. Oxford Reference. Publications Pages Publications Pages. Recently viewed 0 Save Search. The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins 2 ed. Find at OUP.

Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once? Select format to download citation. Such a stretched derivation from a foreign language is typical of a type of folk etymology that nincompoop origin up a lot.

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun nincompoop. Sign in with library card. Sign in as administrator on Oxford Academic. Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into nincompoop, n. Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. OUP will not use this email address for any other purpose.

Another frequent spelling through 18c. Despite the similarity [noted by Johnson] to the Latin legal phrase non compos mentis "insane, mentally incompetent" c. Weekley thinks first element may be a proper name, and cites Nicodemus , which he says was used in French for "a fool," or Nicholas. Klein says it is probably an invented word. Century Dictionary has no objection to the non compos mentis theory. Nick of time is attested by s nick of opportunity is s , possibly from an old custom of recording time as it passed by making notches on a tally stick, though nick in the general sense of "critical moment" is older s, Hanmer, who adds "as commonly we say" than the phrase. Nick n. The verb in this sense is from , but the same word in the sense "to break wind softly" is attested from ; earlier "to make a short blast on a horn" poupen , late 14c. Meaning "stupid or dull person" is from , but this is perhaps short for nincompoop.

Nincompoop origin

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun nincompoop. To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.

Engage synonym

You rotten Jack in a box. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single entry from a reference work in OR for personal use for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice. Each day's news seems to bring ever more horrific stories of greed, incompetence, arrogance, excess, deceit … and inconceivable nincompoopery … — The Hightower Lowdown. Factsheet for nincompoop, n. OED's earliest evidence for nincompoop is from around Modifications may include: further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates; new senses, phrases, and quotations. Earlier versions of nincompoop, n. There have been recordings of nickumpoop , nincumpoop , nink-a-poop , ninkompoop , ninkumpupe , ninny-cum-poop. Recently viewed 0 Save Search. Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. Weekley thinks first element may be a proper name, and cites Nicodemus , which he says was used in French for "a fool," or Nicholas. Popular in Wordplay See All. Nick n.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

What does the noun nincompoop mean? Walford, M. Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. Search within work. The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins 2 ed. WOTD — 30 April Examples of nincompoop in a Sentence. Earliest known use mid s. There have been recordings of nickumpoop , nincumpoop , nink-a-poop , ninkompoop , ninkumpupe , ninny-cum-poop. Missing Letter A crossword with a twist Play. Cancel Save. You rotten Jack in a box. Post the Definition of nincompoop to Facebook Facebook. Pick the best ones! Copy to clipboard Copied to clipboard.