quidnunc

[kwid-nuhngk]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR quidnunc ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who is eager to know the latest news and gossip; a gossip or busybody.

Origin of quidnunc

First recorded in 1700–10, quidnunc is from the Latin word quid nunc what now?

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for quidnunc

rumormonger, gossip, busybody

Examples from the Web for quidnunc

Historical Examples of quidnunc

They call him Quidnunc—Mister Quidnunc, too, and don't you forget it.
Lore of Proserpine
Maurice Hewlett
I went my way home and to bed, but was not done with Quidnunc.
Lore of Proserpine
Maurice Hewlett
Quidnunc, kwid′nungk, n. one always on the lookout for news: one who pretends to know all occurrences.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)
Various
If Quidnunc and Mrs. Ventris were not under our law, neither are the sun, moon and stars, neither are the apes and peacocks.
Lore of Proserpine
Maurice Hewlett
I have not personally come across any other cases where a male fairy took upon him the burden of a man than that of Quidnunc.
Lore of Proserpine
Maurice Hewlett

British Dictionary definitions for quidnunc

quidnunc

noun

a person eager to learn news and scandal; gossipmonger

Word Origin for quidnunc

C18: from Latin, literally: what now

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 quidnunc

"gossip-monger," 1709, formed from Latin quid "what?" (neuter of interrogative pronoun quis "who?;" see who) and nunc "now" (see now), to describe someone forever asking "What's the news?"