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)
- 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).