nincompoop English · revision 1950

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈnɪŋkəmpuːp/ ''(UK)''; /ˈnɪŋkəmˌpup/, /ˈnɪn-/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is unknown.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Etymonline) The earliest form is ''nicompoop'' (before 1676);^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) the extra ''n'' probably came from [[ninny]].^(Barnhart 1995) A link with Latin ''non compos mentis'' “not of sound mind”, noted by Samuel Johnson, is rejected because the earliest forms lack the second ''n''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A fool, blockhead, simpleton (1676).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern form is found by the 1680s,^(Etymonline) though Barnhart dates ''nincompoop'' to 1706.^(Barnhart 1995) Another common spelling through the 18th century was ''nickum-poop''.^(Etymonline) A 1699 dictionary of thieves' slang defines it as a fool, and also a soft, doting husband.^(Etymonline) The meaning has stayed the same.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1676 – ''nicompoop'', a fool.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1680s – ''nincompoop''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1706 – ''nincompoop'' (Barnhart's date).^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1791 – ''nincompoopery''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A silly or stupid person; a fool.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nincompoopery]]

+ * [[nincompoopish]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ninny]]

+ * [[simpleton]]

+ * [[nitwit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}