Dictionary

priggism en · NOUN

Etymology

From prig + -ism.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The quality or state of being priggish; the manners of a prig; exaggerated propriety, fussiness about trivialities.
   • Snobbism, […] like priggism, to which it is closely akin, really indicates a lack of mental perspective. Unlike priggism, however, which seldom obtains any substantial advantage for those suffering from it, certain forms of snobbery can be turned to profitable account […] 1922, Ralph Nevill, chapter 1, in Yesterday and To-day, London: Methuen, page 18:
   • Earl Grey is an elegant man in his person; and his usual dress is tight and trim, bordering upon priggism. 1825, Robert Mudie, chapter 9, in Babylon the Great: A Dissection and Demonstration of Men and Things in the British Capital, volume I, London: Charles Knight, page 175:
   • This writing will work as the artist imagines it, exhibiting the eros that we mistakenly attache to Clinton in our involuntary defense of him, as if puritanical fundamentalism and whiggish priggism weren’t essentially replicated by him in his policies, where it really counts […] 2001, Frederick C. Moten, B. Jenkins, “The Return of the Oppressed”, in Lauren Berlant, Lisa Duggan, editors, Our Monica, Ourselves: The Clinton Affair and the National Interest, New York University Press, page 147:
   • 1903, Julia Frankau (as Frank Danby), Pigs in Clover, Philadelphia: Lippincott, Chapter 11, p. 211, He was even satisfied, secretly gratified at the correctness of demeanour of his proposed bride, the reluctance of her maidenhood, it all fitted in with his priggism […]
2. (obsolete, uncountable, usually) Roguery; thievery.
   • 1743, Henry Fielding, The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great (published as Miscellanies, Volume 3), London: A. Millar, 2nd edition, Book 4, Chapter 3, p. 309, Now, Gentlemen, when we are no longer Prigs, we shall no longer have these Fears or these Desires. What remains, therefore, for us, but to resolve bravely to lay aside our Priggism, our Roguery, in plainer Words, and preserve our Liberty, or to give up the latter in the Preservation and Preference of the former.

Forms

Synonyms

priggery (quality or state of being priggish) · priggishness (quality or state of being priggish)