mumpsimus

[ muhmp-suh-muh s ]

/ ˈmʌmp sə məs /

noun, plural mump·si·mus·es for 2.

adherence to or persistence in an erroneous use of language, memorization, practice, belief, etc., out of habit or obstinacy (opposed to sumpsimus).

a person who persists in a mistaken expression or practice (opposed to sumpsimus).

Nearby words

mump, mumps, mumps skin test antigen, mumps virus, mumps virus vaccine, mumpsimus, mumsy, mumu, mun, mun., munch

Origin of mumpsimus

1520–30; from a story, which perhaps originated with Erasmus, of an illiterate priest who said mumpsimus rather than sūmpsimus (1st plural perfect indicative of Latin sūmere to pick up; see consume) while reciting the liturgy, and refused to change the word when corrected

Examples from the Web for mumpsimus

Mumpsimus, mump′si-mus, n. an error to which one clings after it has been thoroughly exposed.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M)|Various
We are not going to change our old 'mumpsimus' for anybody's new 'sumpsimus.'
Res Judicat|Augustine Birrell
Mr. Beckford called the beast, or reptile, a mumpsimus (sic).
Recollections of the late William Beckford|Henry Venn Lansdown