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., munch, munch, edvard

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