MUMMERY

mummery, flummery

(noun) meaningless ceremonies and flattery

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

mummery (countable and uncountable, plural mummeries)

(now, chiefly, historical) Mumming; disguising oneself to perform as a mummer, or to take part in some other festivities or performance. [from 15th c.]

A ridiculous or ostentatious ceremony, formerly especially of a religious nature; extravagant or hypocritical performance. [from 16th c.]

Source: Wiktionary


Mum"mer*y, n.; pl. Mummeries. Etym: [F. momerie, of Dutch or German origin. See Mumm.]

1. Masking; frolic in disguise; buffoonery. The mummery of foreign strollers. Fenton.

2. Farcical show; hypocritical disguise and parade or ceremonies. Bacon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

9 May 2025

RIGHT

(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee has initially been a food – chewed, not sipped. Early African tribes consume coffee by grinding the berries together, adding some animal fat, and rolling the treats into tiny edible energy balls.

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