gnome1
[nohm]
- (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.
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Origin of gnome1
Synonyms
See more synonyms for gnome on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for gnomish
Historical Examples
All his brave resolutions seemed to drain away before their old, gnomish faces.
The Colors of SpaceMarion Zimmer Bradley
Out from the yellow heart of the pansy-blackness her small, grave, gnomish face peered after him with pristine frankness.
Little Eve EdgartonEleanor Hallowell Abbott
Presently his face, preternaturally solemn and gnomish behind the goggles, protruded over the rim.
The Unspeakable PerkSamuel Hopkins Adams
A quick visualization of that gnomish, froggish face was enough to dispel the suspicion.
The Unspeakable PerkSamuel Hopkins Adams
gnome1
- 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)
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Word Origin
C18: from French, from New Latin gnomus, coined by Paracelsus, of obscure origin
gnome2
- a short pithy saying or maxim expressing a general truth or principle
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Word Origin
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
gnome
n.
"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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper