nugacious
English
Etymology
From Latin nūgax, nūgācis (“trifling”) + -ous.[1]
Adjective
nugacious (comparative more nugacious, superlative most nugacious)
- (now rare) Trivial, trifling or of little importance.
- 1652, John Gaule, “From the testimony of Authority”, in Πῦς-μαντία [Pûs-mantía]. The Mag-Astro-Mancer, or, The Magicall-Astrologicall-Diviner Posed, and Puzzled., London: […] Joshua Kirton […], page 57:
- How many are the ſpurious Authors of theſe Arts; that have uſurped to themſelves the names and titles of holy men, and of men more famous in their own way; on purpoſe to vend their nugacious fables, and preſtigious impoſtures with more eſteem?
- 1661, Joseph Glanvill, “Chap[ter] XVII. […]”, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing: Or Confidence in Opinions. […], London: […] E. C. for Henry Eversden […], OCLC 801399482; reprinted in The Vanity of Dogmatizing […] (Series III: Philosophy; 6), New York, N.Y.: For the Facsimile Text Society by Columbia University Press, 1931, OCLC 603189094, page 165:
- ’Tis theſe nugacious Diſputations, that have been the great hinderance to the more improveable parts of Learning: […]
- 1829, Robert Southey, “Colloquy [X.] Part II. The Reformation.—Dissenters.—Methodists.”, in Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society. […], volume II, London: John Murray, […], OCLC 460415626, page 61:
- Like the Monastic Orders, which were continually subdividing upon some quarrel of reform, .. for the restoration of old observances, or the introduction of new; sometimes for things as nugacious as the colour of a habit, or the shape of a cowl.
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Related terms
- nugacity
- nugatory
References
- James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Nugacious”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VI, Part 2 (M–N), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 253, column 1.