ULTRACREPIDARIAN

PRONUNCIATION: (uhl-truh-krep-i-DAYR-ee-uhn)

MEANING: adjective: Giving opinions beyond one’s area of expertise.
noun: One who gives opinions beyond one’s area of expertise.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin ultra (beyond) + crepidarius (shoemaker), from crepida (sandal). Earliest documented use: 1819.

NOTES: The story goes that in ancient Greece there was a renowned painter named Apelles who used to display his paintings and hide behind them to listen to the comments. Once a cobbler pointed out that the sole of the shoe was not painted correctly. Apelles fixed it and encouraged by this the cobbler began offering comments about other parts of the painting. At this point the painter cut him off with “Ne sutor ultra crepidam” meaning “Shoemaker, not above the sandal” or one should stick to one’s area of expertise.

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ULTRACREPITARIAN - old and crinkly

YULTRACREPIDARIAN - the shoes worn by the King of Siam

ULTRACREEPIDARIAN - New York City rush-hour traffic

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And why, if I may be so bold, is the Greek painter of the story speaking to the Greek cobbler in Latin?