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#208298 - 12/11/12 07:52 PM Re: nincompoop [Re: barryrb]
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,538 tsuwm![]()
Carpal Tunnel![]()
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,538
this too shall pass Originally Posted By: barryrbRe: 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.
Last edited by tsuwm; 12/11/12 07:57 PM. Reason: add oed
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nincompoop
barryrb 12/11/12 04:17 PM ![]()
Re: nincompoop
LukeJavan8 12/11/12 06:07 PM ![]()
Re: nincompoop
tsuwm 12/11/12 07:52 PM
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