priggism

priggism

English

Etymology

prig +‎ -ism

Noun

priggism (usually uncountable, plural priggisms)

1. The quality or state of being priggish; the manners of a prig; exaggerated propriety, fussiness about trivialities.[1]
   • 1825, Robert Mudie, Babylon the Great: A Dissection and Demonstration of Men and Things in the British Capital, London: Charles Knight, Volume I, Chapter 9, p. 175,

     Earl Grey is an elegant man in his person; and his usual dress is tight and trim, bordering upon priggism.

   • 1903, Julia Frankau (as Frank Danby), Pigs in Clover, Philadelphia: Lippincott, Chapter 11, p. 211,

     He was even satisfied, secretly gratified at the correctness of demeanour of his proposed bride, the reluctance of her maidenhood, it all fitted in with his priggism […]

   • 1922, Ralph Nevill, Yesterday and To-day, London: Methuen, Chapter 1, p. 18,

     Snobbism, […] like priggism, to which it is closely akin, really indicates a lack of mental perspective. Unlike priggism, however, which seldom obtains any substantial advantage for those suffering from it, certain forms of snobbery can be turned to profitable account […]

   • 2001, Frederick C. Moten and B. Jenkins, “The Return of the Oppressed” in Lauren Berlant and Lisa Duggan (editors), Our Monica, Ourselves: The Clinton Affair and the National Interest, New York University Press, p. 147,

     This writing will work as the artist imagines it, exhibiting the eros that we mistakenly attache to Clinton in our involuntary defense of him, as if puritanical fundamentalism and whiggish priggism weren’t essentially replicated by him in his policies, where it really counts […]

2. (obsolete) Roguery; thievery.
   • 1743, Henry Fielding, The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great (published as Miscellanies, Volume 3), London: A. Millar, 2nd edition, Book 4, Chapter 3, p. 309,

     Now, Gentlemen, when we are no longer Prigs, we shall no longer have these Fears or these Desires. What remains, therefore, for us, but to resolve bravely to lay aside our Priggism, our Roguery, in plainer Words, and preserve our Liberty, or to give up the latter in the Preservation and Preference of the former.

Synonyms

• (quality or state of being priggish): priggery, priggishness

References

1. Alan and Theresa von Altendorf, Isms, Memphis, Tennessee: Mustang Publishing, 1991, p. 243.