Dictionary

blackguardism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈblæˌɡɑɹdɪzəm/ (General-American)
• /ˈblæɡədɪzəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈblæɡɚdɪzəm/ (General-American)
• /ˈblæɡɑːdɪzəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree English blackguard Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English blackguardism From blackguard + -ism.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Synonym of blackguardry.
   • Collectively, I think, but am not certain, they are the worst men in the regiment so far as genial blackguardism goes. 1887, Rudyard Kipling, “The Three Musketeers”, in Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio Society, published 2005, page 49:
   • swindlery and blackguardism 1837, Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution: A History […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, (please specify the book or page number):
   • The shoutings of the mob exhilarated the pelters and induced many who came as spectators to join in the mischief, and when the blackguardism had reached its height, it was no longer in the power of the constables to stay it, every sort of missile was thrown, a dead cat was a treat, a live one a still greater treat, and woe to the poor animal who fell into the hands of the miscreants. 1829, Francis Place (Diary of Social Reformer Francis Place)

Forms

Synonyms

blackguardry