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moronism

 - 6 dictionary results

mo⋅ron

  [mawr-on, mohr-]
–noun
1. a person who is notably stupid or lacking in good judgment.
2. Psychology. a person of borderline intelligence in a former classification of mental retardation, having an intelligence quotient of 50 to 69.
Use moronism in a Sentence
Compare feeble-minded.

Origin:
1905–10, Americanism; < Gk mōrón, neut. of mōrós foolish, dull

Related forms:
mo⋅ron⋅ic  [muh-ron-ik] , adjective
mo⋅ron⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
mo⋅ron⋅ism, mo⋅ron⋅i⋅ty  [muh-ron-i-tee] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To moronism
mo·ron   (môr'ŏn', mōr'-)   
n.  

  1. A stupid person; a dolt.

  2. Psychology A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational education. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.


[From Greek mōron, neuter of mōros, stupid, foolish.]
mo·ron'ic (mə-rŏn'ĭk, mô-) adj., mo·ron'i·cal·ly adv., mo'ron'ism, mo·ron'i·ty (mə-rŏn'ĭ-tē, mô-) n.
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

moron 
1910, from Gk. (Attic) moron, neut. of moros "foolish, dull" (probably cognate with Skt. murah "idiotic;" L. morus "foolish" is a loan-word from Gk.). Adopted by the American Association for the Study of the Feeble-minded with a technical definition "adult with a mental age between 8 and 12;" used as an insult since 1922 and subsequently dropped from technical use. Linnæus had introduced morisis "idiocy."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: mo·ron
Pronunciation: 'mOr-"än
Function: noun
: a moderately or mildly retarded person —used esp. formerly —see also IDIOT
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: mo·ron
Pronunciation: 'mO(&)r-"än, 'mo(&)r-
Function: noun
: a mentally retarded person who has a potential mental age ofbetween 8 and 12 years and is capable of doing routine work under supervision —mo·ron·ic /m&-'rän-ik, mo-/ adjective —mo·ron·ism /'mOr-"än-"iz-&m, 'mor-/ noun —mo·ron·i·ty /m&-'rän-&t-E, mo-/ noun plural -ties
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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moron mo·ron (môr'ŏn')
n.
A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational education. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

mo·ron'ic (mə-rŏn'ĭk, mô-) adj.
mo'ron'ism or mo·ron'i·ty (mə-rŏn'ĭ-tē, mô-) n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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