Word of the Day

mumpsimus

[muhmp-suh-muhs]

noun:

a person who insists on doing things in an incorrect way

Explanation

A mumpsimus is someone who clings to a mistaken way of doing things, even after the error has been pointed out. This silly-sounding word comes from a story about a priest who kept saying the wrong word during Mass. When stubbornness stands in the way of change, you may be dealing with a true mumpsimus.

Example: Even after being corrected, the mumpsimus continued to write "for all intensive purposes" instead of "for all intents and purposes."