Mummery

Pronunciation: /ˈmʌməri/

Definitions of mummery

noun meaningless ceremonies or rituals

Example Sentences

A1 The children dressed up in colorful costumes for the mummery parade.

A2 During the festival, there were various performances of mummery and street theater.

B1 The tradition of mummery dates back centuries in this region.

B2 The elaborate mummery at the royal court impressed all the guests.

C1 The mummery of the political leaders was seen as a way to distract the public from important issues.

C2 The mummery of the corporate executives fooled no one, as their true intentions were clear.

Examples of mummery in a Sentence

formal The play was criticized for its excessive mummery and lack of substance.

informal I can't stand all the mummery in these school plays.

slang Stop with the mummery and get to the point.

figurative His promises were just empty mummery, with no real intention of following through.

Grammatical Forms of mummery

• past tense: mummeried
• plural: mummeries
• comparative: more mummery
• superlative: most mummery
• present tense: mummeries
• future tense: will mummery
• perfect tense: have mummery
• continuous tense: is mummerying
• singular: mummery
• positive degree: mummery
• infinitive: to mummery
• gerund: mummerying
• participle: mummeryed

Origin and Evolution of mummery

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'mummery' is believed to have originated from the Middle English word 'mum', which referred to a mask or disguise used in performances.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'mummery' evolved to refer to the performance of mummers or actors wearing masks and costumes in traditional folk plays or processions. It later came to be associated with any kind of pretentious or exaggerated behavior, especially in a theatrical or ceremonial context.