Word of the Day 8.26.08

pe·dan·tic (p-dntk)

adj.

Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules: a pedantic attention to details.

pe·danti·cal·ly adv.

Synonyms: pedantic, academic, bookish, donnish, scholastic

These adjectives mean marked by a narrow, often tiresome focus on or display of learning and especially its trivial aspects: a pedantic writing style; an academic insistence on precision; a bookish vocabulary; donnish refinement of speech; scholastic and excessively subtle reasoning.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adj.

1.

pedantic – marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects

donnish, academic

scholarly – characteristic of scholars or scholarship; “scholarly pursuits”; “a scholarly treatise”; “a scholarly attitude”

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

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Posted on August 26, 2008 by admin

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