Dictionary

mummery en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈmʌməɹi/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle French momerie, mommerie, from Old French mommer, from momon. By surface analysis, mummer + -y.

Meanings

1. (archaic, countable, literally, uncountable) Mumming; disguising oneself to perform as a mummer, or to take part in some other festivities or performance.
   • I say the sewer thought I was dressed to bear a part in the tregetour’s mummery, and so I got admission 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe:
2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A ridiculous or ostentatious ceremony, formerly especially of a religious nature; extravagant or hypocritical performance.
   • Because it is more simple, and, in its simplicity, becomes sublime to a mind like her's—in my days of darkness I did not like the ceremonies of the church, but classed them with silly mummeries, hardening my heart against that which I did not understand—now you would have no such feelings to contend with... 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 83:
   • Why, you unweaned cub, he believes in that mummery a good deal less than I do, and I don't believe in it at all. 1951, Isaac Asimov, Foundation:
   • The twentieth of September, they are bound Fast from the midnight watch to pray till morn.— More would he not disclose, or knew not more. —What precious mummery! 1781, Horace Walpole, The Mysterious Mother, Act 1 Scene 1:
   • All this affectation and mummery was in due time overcome, and Zeluco's nuptials with the widow were celebrated in form. 1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 41:

Forms

Translations (7)

bg пантомима (mummer's performance) · ca momeria (mummer's performance) · es mojiganga (mummer's performance) · es mojiganga (silly ceremony) · gl tamborilada (silly ceremony) · de Mummerei (mummer's performance) · fr mommerie (mummer's performance)