ultracrepidarian

[ uhl-truh-krep-i-dair-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a person who criticizes, judges, or gives advice outside their area of expertise:

   The play provides a classic, simplistic portrayal of an ultracrepidarian boss.

noun

1. a person who criticizes, judges, or gives advice outside their area of expertise.

Other Words From

• ultra·crepi·dari·an·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ultracrepidarian¹

First recorded in 1800–20; from Latin ultrā crepidam (also suprā crepidam ) “above the sole, beyond the sole,” from adverb and preposition ultrā ( ultra- ) + Latin crepidam (accusative singular of crepida ) “sole of a shoe, shoe, sandal” (re-formed from Greek krēpîd-, stem of krēpís “man's high boot, half boot, shoe”) + -arian ( def ); in allusion to Pliny the Elder's adaptation of the retort that the Greek painter Apelles (360?–315? b.c.) made to a cobbler who was critiquing Apelles' work, nē suprā crepidam sūtor jūdicāre “let the cobbler not judge above the sandal”; cf. the English proverb “let the cobbler stick to his last”