‖ Momus Myth.
(ˈməʊməs)
Occas. pl. 7 Momi, Momusses, 8 Momus's.
[L. Mōmus, Gr. Μῶµος, personification of µῶµος ridicule.]
A Greek divinity, the god of ridicule, who for his censures upon the gods was banished from heaven; hence, a fault-finder, a captious critic. a daughter, disciple, son of Momus, a facetious or humorously disagreeable person; a wag, a buffoon.
Often in allusions to the story (Lucian Herm. xx, Babrius lix) that when Hephaistos (or Zeus) had made a man, Momus blamed him for not having put a window in his breast.
| 1563 J. Hall in T. Gale Enchirid. A iiij, But maugre nowe the malice great of Momus and his sect. 1579 Fulke Refut. Rastel 710 The sentence is wel inough placed, if Momus could let any thing alone. a 1586 Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 72 If you..by a certaine rusticall disdaine, will become such a Mome, as to be a Momus of Poetry. 1601 Holland Pliny Pref. to Rdr., Certes, such Momi as these..thinke not so honourably of their native countrey and mother tongue as they ought. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xxiii. 14 That window which Momus did require. 1624 Sanderson Serm. (1674) I. 223 A fault more pardonable, if our censures stayed at the works of men, like our selves; and Momus-like, we did not quarrel the works of God also. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. a ij, The Rules..in the following Treatise, are most exact.., though much more abused by ignorant Momus and his Mates..; I say, such Momusses will have their..Tails lash'd by the Devils. 1709 Swift Trit. Ess. Wks. 1751 IV. 180 Those carping Momus's, whom Authors worship as the Indians do the Devil, for fear. 1822 Byron Werner iii. i, Were Momus' lattice in your breasts, My soul might brook to open it more widely Than theirs. 1835 Court Mag. VI. 184/1 Th―e H—k, the momus of the social, the literary and the political world! 1848 Dickens Dombey viii, ‘I do not think..that Wickam is a person of very cheerful spirits, or what one would call a―’ ‘A daughter of Momus', Miss Tox softly suggested. 1860 Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. ix. x. §7. 306 ‘Momus’, the Spirit of Blame. |