The assorted finds of Artefact Publishing
sine nobilitate, sine veritate
Over on No Right Turn, Idiot/Savant uses the phrase sine nobilitate in talking about snobbery. However, it appears that this is a false etymology; the Oxford English Dictionary says it is originally a dialect or colloquial word of obscure origin, and a few web pages provide discussion on the point: the Oxford Dictionary people themselves, Michael Quinion (also associated with the OED) and the erroneous Wikipedia entry. Webster’s dictionary gives an Icelandic origin.
Posted by jamie on
December 14, 2004 11:00+13:00