quidnuncs

I will bet that its value has been exaggerated ten times at least amongst the quidnuncs here.

The Virginians 2006

Men begin to look queer; the circle of quidnuncs make sage remarks.

Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin 2005

Many respectable money – lenders would have required "further information" before they would discount his bills; and "clubmen" in general — save, perhaps, those ancient quidnuncs who know everybody, from Adam downwards — had but little acquaintance with him.

For the term of his natural life 2004

But when it was read by the quidnuncs on the following day it was found to contain so deep a meaning that it produced from Mr

Phineas Redux 2004

‘Pshaw!’ said Rolleston, when he read these sensational reports, ‘in spite of the quidnuncs the mountain will only produce a mouse after all.’

Madame Midas 2003

On the other hand, the London quidnuncs make my seclusion a matter of wonder, and devise twenty romantic fictions to account for it.

The Life of Charlotte Bronte 2002

The quidnuncs of the town, who chanced to see him, and who had heard something of the political movements of the day, thought, no doubt, that he was meditating his future ministerial career.

Can You Forgive Her? 1993

To the end of the Session, at any rate, Mr Finespun kept his position, and held the seals of the Exchequer while all the quidnuncs of the nation, shaking their heads, spoke of the wonderful power of Mr Finespun, and declared that Lord Brock did not dare to face the Opposition without him.

Can You Forgive Her? 1993

Thus was the great affair which agitated all Williamsburg for more than forty-eight hours arranged to the perfect satisfaction of all parties: though we must except that large and influential body the quidnuncs, who, as every body knows, are never satisfied with any thing which comes to an end without a catastrophe.

The Youth of Jefferson A Chronicle of College Scrapes at Williamsburg, in Virginia, A.D. 1764 Anonymous

He amazed all the quidnuncs by buying, for fifty thousand dollars, Rumford Dawes 'old tract of rocks on the Brandywine, which everybody knew was perfectly useless.

Lippincott's Magazine, Volume 11, No. 26, May, 1873 Various