gnome

[nohm]

noun

(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.
an expert in monetary or financial affairs; international banker or financier: the gnomes of Zurich.

Origin of gnome

1705–15; < French < New Latin gnomus, perhaps < Greek gnṓmē; see gnome²

Related formsgnom·ish, adjective

Synonyms for gnome

1. See goblin, sylph.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gnomish

Historical Examples of gnomish

All his brave resolutions seemed to drain away before their old, gnomish faces.
The Colors of Space
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Out from the yellow heart of the pansy-blackness her small, grave, gnomish face peered after him with pristine frankness.
Little Eve Edgarton
Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
Presently his face, preternaturally solemn and gnomish behind the goggles, protruded over the rim.
The Unspeakable Perk
Samuel Hopkins Adams
A quick visualization of that gnomish, froggish face was enough to dispel the suspicion.
The Unspeakable Perk
Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for gnomish

gnome

noun

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
the statue of a gnome, esp in a garden
a very small or ugly person
facetious, or derogatory an international banker or financier (esp in the phrase gnomes of Zürich)

Derived Formsgnomish, adjective

Word Origin for gnome

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

gnome

noun

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

Word Origin for gnome

C16: from Greek gnōmē, from gignōskein to know

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

Word Origin and History for gnomish

adj.

1822, from gnome + -ish. Related: Gnomishly; gnomishness.

gnome

"dwarf-like earth-dwelling spirit," 1712, from French gnome, from Modern Latin gnomus, used 16c. in a treatise by Paracelsus, who gave the name pigmaei or gnomi to elemental earth beings, possibly from Greek *genomos "earth-dweller" (cf. thalassonomos "inhabitant of the sea"). A less-likely suggestion is that Paracelsus based it on the homonym that means "intelligence" (preserved in gnomic). Popular in children's literature 19c. as a name for red-capped German and Swiss folklore dwarfs. Garden figurines first imported to England late 1860s from Germany.