idiotism
(ˈɪdɪətɪz(ə)m)
Also 7 ideotism.
[In branch I. = F. idiotisme (16th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. late L. idiōtismus common or vulgar manner of speaking, a. Gr. ἰδιωτισµός way or fashion of a common person, homely or vulgar phrase, f. ἰδιωτίζειν (see idiotize). In branch II. f. idiot + -ism; cf. F. idiotisme (Cotgr.).]
I. † 1. The speech, language, or dialect peculiar to a country, age, etc.: = idiom 1. Obs.
| 1588 J. H[arvey] Disc. Probleme 65 Some patcheries bungled up in an uplandish Ideotisme. a 1631 Donne Serm. (1839) IV. xcv. 220 It is the language and Idiotism of the Church of God that the Resurrection is to be believed as an Article of Faith. c 1689 in Somers Tracts (1748) II. 433 By this Rule, Clemency and Tyrany should signify the same Thing; which, according to the Idiotism of our Days, are quite contrary. |
† 2. The peculiar character or genius of a language; idiomatic character: = idiom 2. Obs.
| 1605 J. Dove Confut. Atheism 46 The same idiotisme and proprietye of speach in both Testaments vsed..doe shewe that they were written by one and the selfe-same spirit. 1683 Dryden Life Plutarch 96 We may have lost somewhat of the idiotism of that language in which it [a jest] was spoken. 1731 J. Gill Trinity ii. (1752) 23 In perfect agreement with the idiotism of the Hebrew language. |
3. A peculiarity of phrase; a current deviation or departure from the strict syntactical rules or usages of a language; = idiom 3.
| a 1615 Donne Ess. Divinity (1651) 52 It satisfies me, for the phrase..that it is a meer Idiotism. 1683 Cave Ecclesiastici, Hilary 212 Infecting their style with the peculiar Idiotisms of their own Country. a 1734 North Lives II. 373 He once composed a Turkish dictionary, and showed the ordinary idiotisms and analogies of that language. 1882 Century Mag. XXIV. 637 An attempt..to conform to the ‘idiotisms’ of the English language. |
† b. A technical term of science or art. Obs.
| 1655 Bramhall Def. true Liberty xix. 157 Must the Mathematician, the Metaphysician, and the Divine, relinquish all their tearmes of Art, and proper idiotismes? |
c. A personal peculiarity of expression; an individualism (of language). rare.
| 1867 H. N. Day Art Discourse §287 (1870) 260 Idiotism, or the use which is confined to an individual. |
† d. transf. A peculiarity of action, manner, or habit. Obs.
| 1610 Donne Pseudo-Mart. 90 Having made it habituall to them, and an Idiotisme of that Religion. 1639 Fuller Holy War iv. xvi. 196 The very language of their hands made them suspected..because they could not counterfeit the French idiotismes in managing their bucklers. |
II. 4. Ignorance; lack of knowledge or culture.
| 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. A ij b, In discov'ring with his owne vile breath His Idiotisme, he'd be jeer'd to death. a 1652 Brome City Wit iv. i. Wks. 1873 I. 334 May Peasantry and Idiotism trample Upon the heads of Art and Knowledge. |
5. The condition of being void of intellect or reason; = idiocy. Now rare.
| 1611 Cotgr., Idiotisme, ideotisme, naturall follie [etc.]. 1632 Brome North. Lasse iii. ii. Wks. 1873 III. 51 Direct Lunacie and Ideotism. 1710 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) VI. 594 Secretary to the commissions of lunacy and idiotism. 1822–34 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) III. 62 Wit, madness and idiotism are as distinctly an heir-loom of some families as scrofula, consumption, and cancer of others. |
b. Extreme folly, senselessness, or stupidity, exhibited in thought or conduct (cf. idiot 2 b).
| 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (Shaks. Soc.) 40 New herrings, new! we must cry..or else we shall be christend with a hundred newe tytles of idiotisme. 1620 E. Blount Horæ Subs. 363 [To] bee so farre carried away with this Ideotisme, which is both against Reason and Religion. 1745 E. Haywood Female Spect. (1748) II. 231 The folly or madness of such notions would..like other idiotisms, find pity [etc.]. 1764 Wilkes Corr. (1805) II. 63 What idiotism it would be in me to trust myself to a ministry capable of such baseness. 1864 Scotsman 8 Apr., People get sympathy when they have damaged themselves by the perpetration of an idiotism. |