sciolism

noun

sci·o·lism ˈsī-ə-ˌli-zəm

: a superficial show of learning

sciolist

ˈsī-ə-list

noun

sciolistic

ˌsī-ə-ˈli-stik

adjective

Did you know?

Sciolism comes from the Late Latin sciolus, which means "smatterer" (or "one who speaks with spotty or superficial knowledge"). "Sciolus" comes from the diminutive of Latin scius, meaning "knowing," which itself comes from the verb scire, meaning "to know." Of course, if you know something about Latin roots, you know that "scire" is the source of many other English words, including "science," "prescience" ("foreknowledge"), "nescience" ("lack of knowledge"), and "conscience."

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin sciolus "smatterer, pretender to knowledge" (Latin scius "possessing knowledge, expert," derivative of scīre "to know" —perhaps as back-formation from nescius "ignorant"— + -olus, diminutive suffix, here with depreciative value) + -ism — more at science

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sciolism was in 1816

See more words from the same year