gnome

¹

[ nohm ]

noun

1. (in folklore) one of a species of diminutive beings, usually described as shriveled little old men, that inhabit the interior of the earth and act as guardians of its treasures; troll.
2. an expert in monetary or financial affairs; international banker or financier:

   the gnomes of Zurich.

gnome

²

[ nohm, noh-mee ]

noun

1. a short, pithy expression of a general truth; aphorism.

gnome

¹

/ nəʊm /

noun

1. a short pithy saying or maxim expressing a general truth or principle

gnome

²

/ nəʊm /

noun

1. one of a species of legendary creatures, usually resembling small misshapen old men, said to live in the depths of the earth and guard buried treasure
2. the statue of a gnome, esp in a garden
3. a very small or ugly person
4. facetious.
   an international banker or financier (esp in the phrase gnomes of Zürich )

Derived Forms

• ˈgnomish, adjective

Other Words From

• gnomish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnome¹

1705–15; from French from New Latin gnomus, perhaps from Greek gnṓmē; gnome ²

Origin of gnome²

First recorded in 1570–80, gnome is from the Greek word gnṓmē judgment, opinion, purpose

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnome¹

C16: from Greek gnōmē, from gignōskein to know

Origin of gnome²

C18: from French, from New Latin gnomus, coined by Paracelsus, of obscure origin

Synonym Study

See goblin, sylph.

Example Sentences

In Stowe, Vermont, the Spruce Peak Outfitters sets up a wintertime scavenger hunt in the forest for kids, asking them to search for gnomes and other unnaturally placed items.

From Popular-Science

A garden gnome guards the compost pile, herding worms to do their job.

From Outside Online

The autognomes also appeared, which are a race of robotic gnomes that were created by the tinker gnomes of Krynn.

From TechCrunch

You can still have flowers and plants in your home and, with Board approval, a planter or a gnome on your balcony.

From Washington Blade

Edmonson says he got dinky plastic cones, while Hopper says she received a wooden gnome that was “the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

From Time

Strong: Was the gnome in Project X based on our experience taking a gnome across Europe?

From The Daily Beast

Of a sudden I seemed to hear the old gnome croaking, "Now that story sounds to me kind of—"

From Project Gutenberg

The Gnome rotary engine was first used with success at this meeting.

From Project Gutenberg

He must keep his hands clenched in his pockets lest he soils them in striking down the blood-stained gnome before him.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Gnome rotary engine the lightness is entirely due to the initial design and to the materials employed in manufacture.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other side of the fire, reclining upon his elbow, the gnome Kilo is poking the coals with a stick.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fairy