Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Deceit; fraud.
- n. A showy thing of no intrinsic value; something intended to deceive by false show; worthless finery.
- n. Useless stuff; rubbish; trash.
- n. Nonsense; false or idle talk; foolishness.
- Showy, but useless or unsubstantial; hence, trifling; worthless: as, trumpery ornaments.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. Deceit; fraud.
- n. Something serving to deceive by false show or pretense; falsehood; deceit; worthless but showy matter; hence, things worn out and of no value; rubbish.
- adj. Worthless or deceptive in character.
WordNet 3.0
- n. ornamental objects of no great value
- n. nonsensical talk or writing
Etymologies
- Middle English trompery, deceit, from Old French tromperie, from tromper, to deceive.
Examples
“What trumpery is this?" he inquired, superciliously, noticing it almost immediately, and grasping the significance of it as promptly.”
“Now, when a story is recited, that is, when it is treated as a dramatic performance, this kind of trumpery is permissible, if ill-advised.”
“In the country, indeed, one is obliged to take up with all kind of trumpery; but in town I visit none but the women of women of quality.”
“In the country, indeed, one is obliged to take up with all kind of trumpery; but in town I visit none but the women of quality.”
VIII. Containing Scenes of Altercation, of No Very Uncommon Kind. Book VII
“The dinner which followed this unhappy beginning of the evening was as dismal and constrained as if poor "trumpery" were still present.”
“I wonder ---- But I suppose Floyd will save the rest of his 'trumpery' for her!”
“To describe all the trumpery which is immediately around it, in the original, would be a waste of time; but below are two good figures to the right, and two wretched ones to the left.”
A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume One
“Henry had a contempt for all finery, and had called even his aunt's jewels, when they were first shown to him, "trumpery," asking "what they were good for?”
“trumpery," and so supplement the idea of worthlessness with that other idea, equally grateful to the author, of deceit.”
“Nowhere in the Gospels do we find a precept for Creeds, Confessions, Oaths, Doctrines, and whole carloads of other foolish trumpery that we find in Christianity. waterloo honey”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘trumpery’.
-
Gene Wolfe
Please contribute your favorite words from any of Gene Wolfe’s books to this prize-winning list.
In case you come across words in this list which are too commonplace to fit in, please ...gallipot, roost, badelaire, oblesque, execration, dhole, amschaspand, arctother, chalcedony, penitence, asimi, autarch and 839 more...
bilby "Not a single female was present but found some means of expressing her abhorrence of poor Jenny, who bore all very patiently, except the malice of one woman, who reflected upon her person, and tossing up her nose, said, 'The man must have a good stomach who would give silk gowns for such sort of trumpery!'"
- Henry Fielding, 'The History of Tom Jones'. Sep 8, 2009
billyvonraven From OED:
2. ‘Something of less value than it seems’; hence, ‘something of no value; trifles’ (J.); worthless stuff, trash, rubbish. (Usually collective sing.; also, now rarely, pl.)
a. Applied to material objects
b. Applied to abstract things, as beliefs, practices, discourse, writing, etc.: Nonsense, ‘rubbish’.
c. Applied contemptuously to religious practices, ceremonies, ornaments, etc. regarded as idle or superstitious. (Cf. TRINKET n.1 3.) Now rare or merged in general sense.
d. Showy but unsubstantial apparel; worthless finery.
f. Applied to a person, esp. a woman: cf. TRASH n.1
Hence trumperiness. Jun 8, 2009
yarb To stop dilapidations till we get there, said he, we may renew our term by a little breakfast from my wallet. When I am on a journey I am always my own caterer. None of your woollen drapery, nor linen drapery, nor any of your frippery or trumpery.
- Lesage, The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, tr. Smollett, bk 2 ch. 6 Sep 13, 2008
chained_bear "If only there were a good-humored girl among these trumpery queans... but they seem a hard-faced set entirely..."
--Patrick O'Brian, Treason's Harbour, 78 Feb 15, 2008
brtom I hate such old-fashioned trumpery.
Goldsmith, She Stoops, I Jan 8, 2007
brtom ...Embryo's and Idiots, Eremits and Friers
White, Black and Grey, with all thir trumperie.
Milton, Paradise Lost III Dec 19, 2006