Meaning of mumpsimus in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈməmpsɪməs/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  1. Noun

    mumpsimus

    Etymology

    mid 16th century: erroneously for Latin sumpsimus in quod in ore sumpsimus‘which we have taken into the mouth’ (from the Eucharist), in allusion to the story of an illiterate priest who, when corrected for reading quod in ore mumpsimus, replied ‘I will not change my old mumpsimus for your new sumpsimus’

    Definitions

    1. a traditional notion that is obstinately held although it is unreasonable

    Examples

    • « he still holds to the old mumpsimous that a woman's place is in the kitchen »

Browse dictionary