Inkhornism

[likethebeer]

Grandiloquent Word of the Day: Inkhornism (INK•horn•iz•im) Noun: -Overworking something such as a piece of writing. -Pedantry -A show of knowledge. -Unimaginative or unduly emphasis of minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge. -Undue display of learning. -Slavish attention to rules, details, etc. A literary composition of the sixteenth century that “smelled of the lamp” – meaning that it was overworked – perhaps from too much “burning of the midnight oil” by hack writers, who were sometimes called candlewasters. The inspiration for inkhornism was a small, portable case of writing instruments first made of wood and used from the 1300’s to the 1700’s. An inkling, the diminutive of ink, which was related to an older Anglo-Saxon verb imt, ”to mutter,” once was a sample of a written idea. A person who engaged in inkhornism was called an inkhornist. Used in a sentence: "If it weren't for my talent for inkhornism, my essays would never be long enough to receive full credit for the assignment."

Grandiloquent Word of the Day: Inkhornism
(INK•horn•iz•im)
Noun:
-Overworking something such as a piece of writing.
-Pedantry
-A show of knowledge.
-Unimaginative or unduly emphasis of minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge.
-Undue display of learning.
-Slavish attention to rules, details, etc.

A literary composition of the sixteenth century that “smelled of the lamp” – meaning that it was overworked – perhaps from too much “burning of the midnight oil” by hack writers, who were sometimes called candlewasters. The inspiration for inkhornism was a small, portable case of writing instruments first made of wood and used from the 1300’s to the 1700’s. An inkling, the diminutive of ink, which was related to an older Anglo-Saxon verb imt, ”to mutter,” once was a sample of a written idea.
A person who engaged in inkhornism was called an inkhornist.

Used in a sentence:
"If it weren't for my talent for inkhornism, my essays would never be long enough to receive full credit for the assignment."

Comments

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I find the word "inkhornism" kind of annoying. I do appreciate the irony in its usage, though.

"Undue display of learning," is a great phrase.