know-nothingism
ɪŋ noun
1.
an ignorant or totally uninformed person; ignoramus.
2.
an agnostic.
3.
(initial capital letters) U.S. History. a member of a political party (American party or Know-Nothing party) prominent from 1853 to 1856, whose aim was to keep control of the government in the hands of native-born citizens: so called because members originally professed ignorance of the party's activities.
4.
a person whose anti-intellectualism, xenophobia, and other political attitudes recall the Know-Nothings.
adjective
5.
grossly ignorant; totally uninformed.
6.
7.
(initial capital letters) of or pertaining to the Know-Nothings.
8.
of or pertaining to a political know-nothing.
00:10
Know-nothingism
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Origin:
1815–25
1815–25
Related forms
know-noth·ing·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To know-nothingism
Collins
World English Dictionary
| know-nothing | |
| —n | |
| informal, derogatory an ignorant person | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
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