In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
IGNOBLE
ignoble
(adjective) completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose; “something cowardly and ignoble in his attitude”; “I think it a less evil that some criminals should escape than that the government should play an ignoble part”- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
ignoble, ungentle, untitled
(adjective) not of the nobility; “of ignoble (or ungentle) birth”; “untitled civilians”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
ignoble (comparative ignobler, )
Not noble; plebeian; common.
Not honorable; base.
Not a true or "noble" falcon; said of certain hawks, such as the goshawk.
Synonyms
• (common): common, plebeian, vulgar
• (not honorable): degenerate, mean, base, vile, low-minded, reproachful, shameful, disgraceful
Antonyms
• (common): noble
• (not honorable): noble, honorable
Anagrams
• Gobelin, gobline, inglobe
Source: Wiktionary
Ig*no"ble, a. Etym: [L. ignobilis; pref. in- not + nobilis noble: cf. F. ignoble. See In- not, and Noble, a.]
1. Of low birth or family; not noble; not illustrious; plebeian; common; humble. I was not ignoble of descent. Shak. Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants. Shak.
2. Not honorable, elevated, or generous; base. 'T but a base, ignoble mind, That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. Shak. Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife. Gray.
3. (Zoöl.)
Definition: Not a true or noble falcon; -- said of certain hawks, as the goshawk.
Syn.
– Degenerate; degraded; mean; base; dishonorable; reproachful; disgraceful; shameful; scandalous; infamous.
Ig*no"ble, v. t.
Definition: To make ignoble. [Obs.] Bacon.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
19 June 2025
ROOTS
(noun) the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage; “his roots in Texas go back a long way”; “he went back to Sweden to search for his roots”; “his music has African roots”
Coffee Trivia
