pedantry

English

Etymology

pedant + -ry. From Middle French pedant, pedante, from Italian pedante (“a teacher, schoolmaster, pedant”), of uncertain origin, traced by some sources to Latin paedagogans, present participle of paedagogare ( = to teach, from Greek "paedagogein" = to instruct children ). Confer French pédanterie.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /ˈpɛd.ən.tɹi/, X-SAMPA: /"pEd.@n.tr\i/

• Audio (SA)

  (file)

Noun

pedantry (plural pedantries)

1. An excessive attention to detail or rules.
2. An instance of such behaviour.

   I don't want to listen to your pedantries anymore.

3. An overly ambitious display of learning.

Related terms

• pedant
• pedantic
• pedantocracy

Translations

excessive attention to detail or rules

• Finnish: pikkutarkkuus (fi), pedanttisuus (fi)
• Greek: σχολαστικότητα (el) (scolastikotita) f

• Icelandic: smámunasemi (is) f, smásmygli (is) f

instance of being pedantic

• Finnish: viisastelu (fi), saivartelu (fi)

• Icelandic: smámunasemi (is) f, smásmygli (is) f

overly ambitious display of learning

• Dutch: pedanterie (nl)
• Finnish: viisastelu (fi), rikkiviisaus (fi)
• French: pédanterie (fr) f
• German: Pedanterie (de) f

• Greek: δοκησισοφία (el) (dokisisofía) f
• Hebrew: דקדוקי עניות (he) (dikdûkei aniyût)
• Korean: 현학
• Spanish: pedantería (es) f

External links

• pedantry in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• pedantry in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• pedantry at OneLook Dictionary Search