cretin

views updated May 29 2018

cre·tin / ˈkrētn/ • n. a stupid person (used as a general term of abuse). ∎  dated Med. a person who is deformed and mentally handicapped because of congenital thyroid deficiency.DERIVATIVES: cre·tin·ism / -ˌizəm/ n.cre·tin·ous / -əs/ adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

cretin

views updated May 23 2018

cretin deformed idiot of the Alpine valleys. XVIII. — F. crétin — Swiss F. creitin, crestin :- L. Chrīstiānus CHRISTIAN, the reprs. of which in Rom. langs. also mean ‘human being’ as dist. from the brutes.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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