pedantry

Etymology

pedant + -ry. From Middle French pedant, pedante, from Italian pedante (“a teacher, schoolmaster, pedant”), of uncertain origin, traced by some sources to Latin paedagogans, present participle of paedagogare ( = to teach, from Greek "paedagogein" = to instruct children ). Confer French pédanterie.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛd.ən.tɹi/

• Audio (SA)

  (file)

Noun

pedantry (plural pedantries)

1. An excessive attention to detail or rules.
2. An instance of such behaviour.

   I don't want to listen to your pedantries anymore.

3. An overly ambitious display of learning.

Further reading

• pedantry in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• pedantry in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• pedantry at OneLook Dictionary Search