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”; see conscious, -ole ¹) + -ism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sciolism

And such readers will become in all probability more numerous, in proportion as a still greater diffusion of literature shall produce an increase of sciolists, and sciolism bring with it petulance and presumption.

From Biographia Literaria by Coleridge, Samuel Taylor

This is a point on which the ancients, I am aware, in their light-hearted sciolism laid great stress.

From A Modern Symposium by Dickinson, G. Lowes (Goldsworthy Lowes)

Meanwhile, the genius of the Florentine people was saving Italian literature from the extreme consequences to which caricatures of this kind, inspired by humanistic pedantry and sciolism, exposed it.

From Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature Part 1 (of 2) by Symonds, John Addington

I am sick of sciolism, especially that phase where it crops out in shallow criticism, and every day something recalls the reprimand of Apelles to the shoemaker.

From St. Elmo by Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)

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

Related Words

• illiteracy
• nescience