sciolism

American  

[sahy-uh-liz-uhm] / ˈsaɪ əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. superficial knowledge.

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sciolism British  

/ ˈsaɪəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. rare the practice of opinionating on subjects of which one has only superficial knowledge

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Other Word Forms

• sciolist noun
• sciolistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of sciolism

First recorded in 1750–60; from Late Latin sciol(us) “one who knows little,” (diminutive of scius “knowing”; conscious, -ole ¹ ) + -ism

Example Sentences

Scīolis′tic, pertaining to, or partaking of, sciolism: pertaining to, or resembling, a sciolist; Scī′olous.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Few things are as distressing as the sciolism of a second-rate English editor of a classic.

From An American at Oxford by Corbin, John

It seemed to stand out in such sharp contrast with our latter-day sciolism and half-believed creeds, and to be flung into higher relief by the dark shadow of John Maltravers's ruined life.

From The Lost Stradivarius by Falkner, John Meade

And yet, even worse than this languorous inanition is the active policy of those who despise everything contemporary or native, and substitute sciolism for catholicity, contempt for analysis.

From Contemporary American Composers Being a Study of the Music of This Country, Its Present Conditions and Its Future, with Critical Estimates and Biographies of the Principal Living Composers; and an Abundance of Portraits, Fac-simile Musical Autographs, and Compositions by Hughes, Rupert

"Positive philosophy," with complacent sciolism, may still coldly asseverate that the world is a dead congeries of "laws," into whose realm man is cast to take pot-luck in the universe; but we shall know better.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 95, September 1865 by Various

Related Words

• illiteracy
• nescience