mumpsimus

American  

[muhmp-suh-muhs] / ˈmʌmp sə məs /

noun

mumpsimuses plural

1. adherence to or persistence in an erroneous use of language, memorization, practice, belief, etc., out of habit or obstinacy (opposed to sumpsimus).

2. a person who persists in a mistaken expression or practice (opposed to sumpsimus).

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Etymology

Origin of mumpsimus

First recorded in 1520–30; from a story, perhaps originating with Erasmus, of an illiterate Catholic priest who, while saying the postcommunion prayer at Mass, said mumpsimus rather than sūmpsimus (1st-person plural perfect of Latin sūmere “to take, take up”): “Quod ōre sūmpsimus, Domine, pūrā mente capiāmus” (“What we have taken by mouth, O Lord, may we keep with a pure mind”) and refused to change the word when corrected; see consume ( def. )

Example Sentences

Mumpsimus, mump′si-mus, n. an error to which one clings after it has been thoroughly exposed.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

"You heard from me at Bombay; after I'd been up to the Himalaya with an old Mumpsimus friend?"

From Two Years Ago, Volume I by Kingsley, Charles

But the epitaphs were trim, and sprag, and potent, and pleased the survivors of Thames-Ditton above the old Mumpsimus of 'Afflictions Sore'....

From Highways and Byways in Surrey by Thomson, Hugh