gnome

¹

[nohm]

noun

1. (in folklore) one of a species of diminutive beings, usually described as shriveled little old men, that inhabit the interior of the earth and act as guardians of its treasures; troll.

2. an expert in monetary or financial affairs; international banker or financier.

   the gnomes of Zurich.

gnome

²

[nohm, noh-mee]

noun

1. a short, pithy expression of a general truth; aphorism.

gnome

¹

/ nəʊm /

noun

1. one of a species of legendary creatures, usually resembling small misshapen old men, said to live in the depths of the earth and guard buried treasure

2. the statue of a gnome, esp in a garden

3. a very small or ugly person

4. facetious,  an international banker or financier (esp in the phrase gnomes of Zürich )

gnome

²

/ nəʊm /

noun

1. a short pithy saying or maxim expressing a general truth or principle

Other Word Forms

• gnomish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnome¹

1705–15; from French from New Latin gnomus, perhaps from Greek gnṓmē; gnome ²

Origin of gnome²

First recorded in 1570–80, gnome is from the Greek word gnṓmē judgment, opinion, purpose

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnome¹

C18: from French, from New Latin gnomus, coined by Paracelsus, of obscure origin

Origin of gnome²

C16: from Greek gnōmē, from gignōskein to know

Synonym Study

See goblin, sylph.

Example Sentences

An answer that includes gnomes and a troll.

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For my wedding at Nestldown, my aesthetic was stately and whimsical gnomes.

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Stealing her father’s favorite garden gnome, she arranges for her dad to receive a series of Polaroid snapshots of the gnome at the world’s most famous tourist spots.

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In the shadow of the porcelain seats, as if placed by gnomes, sit four children’s chairs.

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She screeches, spills a river of curses onto them and sprints off, running her way out of one shoe while hanging on to the garden gnome she used to smash a windowpane.

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Related Words

• fairy