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gnomish

 - 3 dictionary results

gnome

1  [nohm]
Use gnomish in a Sentence
–noun
1. (in folklore) one of a species of diminutive beings, usually described as shriveled little old men, that inhabit the interior of the earth and act as guardians of its treasures; troll.
2. an expert in monetary or financial affairs; international banker or financier: the gnomes of Zurich.
Origin:
1705–15; < F < NL gnomus, perh. < Gk gnmē; see gnome 2

Related forms:
gnomish, adjective

Synonyms:
1. See goblin, sylph.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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gnome 1   (nōm)   
n.  

  1. One of a fabled race of dwarflike creatures who live underground and guard treasure hoards.

  2. In the occult philosophy of Paracelsus, a being that has earth as its element.


[French, from New Latin gnomus.]
gnom'ish adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gnome 
"dwarf-like earth-dwelling spirit," 1712, from Fr. gnome, from L. gnomus, used 16c. in a treatise by Paracelsus, who gave the name pigmaei or gnomi to elemental earth beings, possibly from Gk. *genomos "earth-dweller." A less-likely suggestion is that Paracelsus based it on the homonym that means "intelligence" (preserved in gnomic). Popular in children's literature 19c. as a name for red-capped Ger. and Swiss folklore dwarfs. Garden figurines first imported to England late 1860s from Germany.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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