insipience

[ in-sip-ee-uhns ]

nounArchaic.

lack of wisdom; foolishness.

Origin of insipience

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin insipientia “foolishness,” equivalent to insipient- stem of insipiēns “foolish” (in- in-³ + -sipient-, combining form of sapient- sapient) + -ia; see -ence

Other words from insipience

in·sip·i·ent, adjective
in·sip·i·ent·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with insipience

incipient, insipid, insipient

Words Nearby insipience

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use insipience in a sentence

Their anfractuousness, their insipience, and their turpitude, are no longer amphibological.
Deformities of Samuel Johnson, Selected from his Works | Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for insipience

insipience

/ (ɪnˈsɪpɪəns) /

noun

archaic lack of wisdom

Origin of insipience

C15: from Latin insipientia, from in- 1 + sapientia wisdom; see sapient

Derived forms of insipience

insipient, adjective
insipiently, adverb

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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