Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Idiotism
Id′i-ot-ism
,Noun.
[F.
idiotisme
, L. idiotismus
the way of fashion of a private person, the common or vulgar manner of speaking, Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] to put into or use common language, fr. [GREEK]. See Idiot
.] 1.
An idiom; a form, mode of expression, or signification, peculiar to a language.
Scholars sometimes give terminations and
idiotisms
, suitable to their native language, unto words newly invented. M. Hale.
2.
Lack of knowledge or mental capacity; idiocy; foolishness.
Worse than mere ignorance or
idiotism
. Shaftesbury.
The running that adventure is the greatist
idiotism
. Hammond.
Webster 1828 Edition
Idiotism
ID'IOTISM
,Noun.
1.
An idiom; a peculiarity of expression; a mode of expression peculiar to a language; a peculiarity in the structure of words and phrases. Scholars sometimes give terminations and idiotisms suitable to their native language, to words newly invented.
2.
Idiocy. But it would be well to restrain this word to its proper signification, and keep idiocy and idiotism distinct.