Fletcherism
(ˈflɛtʃərɪz(ə)m)
[f. the name of Horace Fletcher (1849–1919), American author + -ism.]
The practice of thorough mastication advocated by Fletcher. So ˈFletcherite, a follower of Fletcher; ˈfletcherize v. trans., to masticate thoroughly. Also fig.
| 1903 Lit. Digest 28 Nov. 739/1 It is now proposed to speak of the ‘Fletcherizing’ of food that is thoroughly chewed. 1904 Daily Chron. 31 Oct. 4/7 The Fletcherites preach the gospel of chewing. 1906 Suburban Country Life (Boston) Aug. 101/1 His investigation of what has been known as Fletcherism. 1907 Practitioner June 852 The Fletcherites, who, so far from not giving two bites to a cherry, insist on thirty-two to a mashed potato. 1909 H. James in W. D. Orcutt Quest Perf. Bk. (1926) 88 It is impossible save in a long talk to make you understand how the blessed Fletcherism..lulled me, charmed me, beguiled me. 1910 ‘O. Henry’ Strictly Business (1917) xvii. 182 Annette Fletcherized large numbers of romantic novels. 1922 Wodehouse Adv. Sally ii. 41 The raffish mongrel was apparently endeavouring to fletcherize a complete stranger of the Sealyham family. 1925 ‘J. Doyle’ Marmosite's Miscellany 8 The rank spiny grass and the remotest flower..I am garlanding together in a glorious wreath To fletcherise at leisure. |