Idiotism

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Idiotism \Id"i*ot*ism\, n. [F. idiotisme, L. idiotismus the way
     of fashion of a private person, the common or vulgar manner
     of speaking, Gr. ?, fr. ? to put into or use common language,
     fr. ?. See {Idiot}.]
     1. An idiom; a form, mode of expression, or signification,
        peculiar to a language.


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              Scholars sometimes give terminations and idiotisms,
              suitable to their native language, unto words newly
              invented.                             --M. Hale.
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     2. Lack of knowledge or mental capacity; idiocy; foolishness.
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              Worse than mere ignorance or idiotism.
                                                    --Shaftesbury.
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              The running that adventure is the greatist idiotism.
                                                    --Hammond.
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