picayune
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Etymology
[edit] Adjective
picayune (comparative more picayune, superlative most picayune)
- Petty, trivial; of little consequence; small and of little importance; picayunish;
- 2005, New York Times, November 17, 2005
- "It might seem like a picayune matter, akin to the rivalry in the film "Monty Python's Life of Brian" between the Judean People's Front, the Judean Popular People's Front and the People's Front of Judea."
- 2005, New York Times, November 17, 2005
- something not worth arguing about.
- an argument, fact, corner case, or other issue raised (often intentionally) that distracts from a larger issue at hand or does not change a primary supposition, outcome, postulate, premise, conclusion, hypothesis, judgment or recommendation;
- small-minded: being childishly spiteful, tending to go on about unimportant things.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Noun
picayune (plural picayunes)
- (archaic) A small coin of the value of six and a quarter cents.
A Spanish-American half-real piece formerly used in parts of the southern United States.
- A five-cent piece.
- Something of very little value; a trifle: not worth a picayune.
[edit] Translations
A small coin of the value of six and a quarter cents.
A five-cent piece.
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Something of very little value.
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[edit] See also
Picayune on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Picayune in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.