mumpsimus

American  

[muhmp-suh-muhs] / ˈmʌmp sə məs /

noun

plural

mumpsimuses

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

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

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Etymology

Origin of mumpsimus

First recorded in 1520–30; from a story, perhaps originating with Erasmus, of an illiterate Catholic priest who, while saying the postcommunion prayer at Mass, said mumpsimus rather than sūmpsimus (1st-person plural perfect of Latin sūmere “to take, take up”): “Quod ōre sūmpsimus, Domine, pūrā mente capiāmus” (“What we have taken by mouth, O Lord, may we keep with a pure mind”) and refused to change the word when corrected; consume ( def. )

Example Sentences

We are not going to change our old 'mumpsimus' for anybody's new 'sumpsimus.'

From Project Gutenberg

Such a deliberate preference of “mumpsimus” to “sumpsimus” is by no means calculated to conciliate favour, or even to win respect.

From Project Gutenberg

So the reformers who call it “mulligatunny” are just as bad as we devotees of mumpsimus and mulligatawny ourselves.

From Project Gutenberg

In the reign of Henry the Eighth, an old priest was found who for forty years had read the word sumpsimus in his breviary as mumpsimus.

From Project Gutenberg

And now let all defenders of present institutions, however bad they may be—let all violent supporters of their old mumpsimus against any new sumpsimus whatever, listen to a conversation among some undergraduates.

From Project Gutenberg