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#208295 - 12/11/12 11:17 AM nincompoop
barryrb stranger Registered: 12/11/12 Posts: 1	Re: etymology, I was once told or read, perhaps in law school, that this was a corruption of the Latin phrase for mental defect or unsound mind, "non compos mentis."
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#208297 - 12/11/12 01:07 PM Re: nincompoop [Re: barryrb]
LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/08 Posts: 5279 Loc: Land of the Flat Water	Originally Posted By: barryrb Re: etymology, I was once told or read, perhaps in law school, that this was a corruption of the Latin phrase for mental defect or unsound mind, "non compos mentis." As was I, I'm glad you brought it up. And Welcome. Edited by LukeJavan8 (12/11/12 01:08 PM) _________________________ ----please, draw me a sheep----
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#208298 - 12/11/12 02:52 PM Re: nincompoop [Re: barryrb]
tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 10463 Loc: this too shall pass	Originally Posted By: barryrb Re: etymology, I was once told or read, perhaps in law school, that this was a corruption of the Latin phrase for mental defect or unsound mind, "non compos mentis." but see Quinion and here is OED online: Etymology: Origin uncertain; the second element may perhaps be poop v.2 (compare earlier noddypoop n.). The first element in α forms may show a form derived from a name; compare French nicodème simple or naive person (see Nicodemite n.). With the first element in β forms compare ninny n.1 Various other etymologies have been suggested. Johnson's suggestion of non compos n. does not agree with the earliest forms. Edited by tsuwm (12/11/12 02:57 PM) Edit Reason: add oed
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