cretin
(no longer in technical use) a person with cretinism.
Informal. a very stupid or contemptible person.
Origin of cretin
1Other words from cretin
- cre·ti·noid, adjective
- cre·tin·ous, adjective
- sem·i·cre·tin, noun
Words Nearby cretin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use cretin in a sentence
Another author mentions a cretin who could tell exactly the birthdays and death-days of the inhabitants of his town for a decade.
Criminal Psychology | Hans GrossThe poetical whim of cretin, a French poet, brought into fashion punning or equivocal rhymes.
Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 1 (of 3) | Isaac D'IsraeliThe cretin, whose eyes caught a glimpse of the cake, laughed, and began to try to reach out her hand to take it.
Rollo in Geneva | Jacob AbbottThe cretin was the one variety of the human species with which the commandant had not yet come in contact.
The Country Doctor | Honore de BalzacBenassis himself, after a close scrutiny of the dull eyes and corpse-like face, gently took the cretin's hand and felt his pulse.
The Country Doctor | Honore de Balzac
British Dictionary definitions for cretin
/ (ˈkrɛtɪn) /
old-fashioned a person afflicted with cretinism
offensive a person considered to be extremely stupid
Origin of cretin
1Derived forms of cretin
- cretinoid, adjective
- cretinous, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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