Latinitaster

English

Etymology

From Latin + the pejorative suffix -aster (from Latin -aster), meaning “inferior, petty, or imperfect imitation of.”

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌlætɪˈnɪtæstər/

• Zhuyin Transliteration:

ㄌㄚ ㄊㄧ ㄋㄧ ㄊㄚ ㄙ ㄊㄜ ㄦ

• Katakana Transliteration:

ラティニタスター

(Ra-ti-ni-ta-su-tā)

• Hangul Transliteration:

라티니타스터

(Ra-ti-ni-ta-seu-teo)

• Cyrillic Transliteration:

латинитастер

(la-ti-ni-ta-ster)

Noun

latinitaster (plural latinitasters)

1. A petty or inferior scholar of Latin; one who pretends to learning in Latin but lacks true mastery.
   • The university corridors were once full of latinitasters correcting one another’s ablatives with unwarranted confidence.

Usage notes

The suffix -aster often forms pejorative nouns indicating someone who imperfectly or pretentiously imitates a profession or skill (compare poetaster, criticaster).

See also

• -aster
• poetaster
• criticaster