nincompoop — in com*poop, n. [A corruption of non compos.] A fool; a silly or stupid person. [Law] [1913 Webster] An old ninnyhammer, a dotard, a nincompoop, is the best language she can afford me. Addison. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
nincompoop — (n.) 1670s, nicompoop. Despite similarity [noted by Johnson] to Latin legal phrase NON COMPOS MENTIS (Cf. non compos mentis) insane, mentally incompetent (c.1600), the connection is denied by etymologists because the earliest forms lack the… … Etymology dictionary
nincompoop — ► NOUN ▪ a stupid person. ORIGIN perhaps from the given name Nicholas, or from the name of the Pharisee Nicodemus, known for his naive questioning of Christ … English terms dictionary
nincompoop — [nin′kəm po͞op΄] n. [< ?] a stupid, silly person; fool … English World dictionary
nincompoop — noun A silly or foolish person. No wonder that Chauvelins spies had failed to detect, in the apparently brainless nincompoop, the man whose reckless daring and resourceful ingenuity had baffled the keenest French spies... Syn: dunderhead, fop,… … Wiktionary
nincompoop — noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1676 fool, simpleton • nincompoopery noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
nincompoop — nincompoopery, n. nincompoopish, adj. /nin keuhm poohp , ning /, n. a fool or simpleton. [1670 80; orig. uncert.] * * * … Universalium
nincompoop — Synonyms and related words: Boeotian, ass, block, clod, dimwit, dolt, donkey, dope, dullard, dumb cluck, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, gowk, idiot, imbecile, jackass, jerk, jobbernowl, lackwit, lamebrain, lightweight, looby, loon, niais, ninny,… … Moby Thesaurus
nincompoop — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. simpleton, chump (see ignorance, credulity). II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. imbecile, simpleton, dope*; see fool 1 . III (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun One deficient in judgment and good sense: ass, fool, idiot … English dictionary for students
nincompoop — nin|com|poop [ˈnıŋkəmpu:p] n old fashioned [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: ninny + nicompoop stupid person (1600 1700)] a stupid person … Dictionary of contemporary English