cretin
[ kreet-n or, especially British, kret-n ]
/ ˈkrit n or, especially British, ˈkrɛt n /
noun
a person suffering from cretinism.
a stupid, obtuse, or mentally defective person.
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Origin of cretin
1770–80; <French; Franco-Provençal creitin, crestin human being, literally, Christian (hence one who is human despite deformities)
OTHER WORDS FROM cretin
cre·ti·noid, adjectivecre·tin·ous, adjectivesem·i·cre·tin, nounWords nearby cretin
cretaceous, Cretan, Cretan bull, Crete, cretic, cretin, cretinism, cretinize, cretonne, cretons, Creüsa
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for cretin
British Dictionary definitions for cretin
cretin
/ (ˈkrɛtɪn) /
noun
old-fashioned a person afflicted with cretinism
offensive a person considered to be extremely stupid
Derived forms of cretin
cretinoid, adjectivecretinous, adjectiveWord Origin for cretin
C18: from French crétin, from Swiss French crestin, from Latin Chrīstiānus Christian, alluding to the humanity of such people, despite their handicaps
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for cretin
cretin
[ krēt′n ]
n.
A person afflicted with cretinism.
Other words from cretin
cre′tin•oid′ (-oid′) adj.cre′tin•ous (-əs) adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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