quidnuncとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From Latin quid nunc? (“what now?”).

発音

• (Received 発音, 米国発音) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɪdˌnʌŋk/

名詞

quidnunc (複数形 quidnuncs)

1. (archaic) A person eager to learn news and scandal.

   Synonyms: busybody, buttinsky, gossip, newsmonger, yenta

   • 1785, Rudolf Erich Raspe, chapter V, in The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen:

     We all did our duty, which, in the patriot's, soldier's, and gentleman's language, is a very comprehensive word, of great honour, meaning, and import, and of which the generality of idle quidnuncs and coffee-house politicians can hardly form any but a very mean and contemptible idea.

   • 1809, Washington Irving, chapter VIII, in Knickerbocker's History of New York, volume 5:

     […] but still something was necessary to convince the community at large, to quiet those praying quidnuncs who should come after them--in short, the world must be satisfied.

Further reading

• “quidnunc” in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press.