mummery
/ˈmʌməɹi/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.88 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Mumming; disguising oneself to perform as a mummer, or to take part in some other festivities or performance.
Archaic; Countable; Uncountable
noun
A ridiculous or ostentatious ceremony, formerly especially of a religious nature; extravagant or hypocritical performance.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "I say the sewer thought I was dressed to bear a part in the tregetour’s mummery, and so I got admission"
- "The twentieth of September, they are bound Fast from the midnight watch to pray till morn.— More would he not disclose, or knew not more. —What precious mummery!"
- "All this affectation and mummery was in due time overcome, and Zeluco's nuptials with the widow were celebrated in form."
- "Because it is more simple, and, in its simplicity, becomes sublime to a mind like her's—in my days of darkness I did not like the ceremonies of the church, but classed them with silly mummeries, hardening my heart against that which I did not understand—now you would have no such feelings to contend with..."
- "Why, you unweaned cub, he believes in that mummery a good deal less than I do, and I don't believe in it at all."
Etymology
From Middle French momerie, mommerie, from Old French mommer, from momon. By surface analysis, mummer + -y.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: momerie, mommer