Dictionary

ropery en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• rō′pə-rē
• /ˈɹəʊ.p(ə.)ɹi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɹoʊ.p(ə.)ɹi/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree English rope Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -ārius Old French -ier Latin -ia Old French -ie Old French -eriebor. Middle English -erie English -ery English ropery From rope + -ery.

Meanings

1. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Any form of language used, typically slang or slander, that can get one in trouble.
   • Marry, farewell! I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery? c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
2. (countable, uncountable) A place where ropes are made; ropewalk.

Forms