Sciolist

2 definitions found

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

  Sciolist \Sci"o*list\, n. [L. sciolus. See {Sciolous}.]
     One who knows many things superficially; a pretender to
     science; a smatterer.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           These passages in that book were enough to humble the


           presumption of our modern sciolists, if their pride
           were not as great as their ignorance.    --Sir W.
                                                    Temple.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           A master were lauded and sciolists shent. --R.
                                                    Browning.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sciolist
       n : an amateur who engages in an activity without serious
           intentions and who pretends to have knowledge [syn: {dabbler},
            {dilettante}]