cretin
[ kreet-n or, especially British, kret-n ]
/ ˈkrit n or, especially British, ˈkrɛt n /
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noun
(no longer in technical use) a person with cretinism.
Informal. a very stupid or contemptible person.
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Origin of cretin
First recorded in 1770–80; from French crétin, originally from French Alpine dialect creitin, crestin “deformed and mentally defective dwarf” (owing to iodine deficiency in Alpine regions); further origin uncertain; perhaps from Vulgar Latin Christiānus “a Christian, human being, unfortunate person,” from Latin Christiānus Christian
OTHER WORDS FROM cretin
cre·ti·noid, adjectivecre·tin·ous, adjectivesem·i·cre·tin, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use cretin in a sentence
Both films quite seriously question and call out the cretinous conception of "black masculinity" pushed in the idiom.
One editor at National Review—a friend of 30 years—emailed me that he thought my opinions “cretinous.”
Of these cretinous calumnies, there were hundreds afloat for years on end.
Charles Bradlaugh: a Record of His Life and Work, Volume II (of 2)|Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner and J. M. (John Mackinnon) Robertson
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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