jejune etymology

Etymology

• Latin: ieiunus ("empty, fasting")
• Proto-Indo-European: *h₁eyǵʰ- ("empty, hungry")

Meaning and Origin

The word "jejune" originally referred to an empty stomach or a fasting state in Latin. It was derived from the Latin adjective ieiunus, which in turn came from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁eyǵʰ-, meaning "empty" or "hungry."

Over time, the meaning of "jejune" expanded to include a lack of substance or significance. In the 16th century, it began to be used to describe writing or speech that is shallow, superficial, or lacking in originality. This usage is often associated with the writings of Thomas Nashe, a contemporary of Shakespeare who was known for his satirical and witty style.

Examples of Use

• "The speech was a jejune collection of platitudes and meaningless rhetoric."
• "The novel was so jejune that I couldn't bring myself to finish it."
• "His writing is full of jejune observations and forced attempts at humor."

jejune relate terms

• breakfast

  Etymology The word breakfast originated in the early 15th century Middle English term

• break

  Etymology Middle English breken breken Old English brecan Proto Germanic brekan Pro

• fast

  Etymology Fast derives from the Middle English word faste which means to refrain from

• undern

  Etymology The word undern has its roots in the Old English word under meaning below

• mordant

  Etymology The word mordant derives from the Middle French word mordre meaning to b

• jejune

  Etymology Latin ieiunus empty fasting Proto Indo European h₁eyǵʰ empty h

• dine

  Etymology The word dine comes from the Old French verb disner which in turn derives

• dine

  Etymology The word dine comes from the Old French verb disner which in turn derives

• jejune

  Etymology Latin ieiunus empty fasting Proto Indo European h₁eyǵʰ empty h

• dinner

  Etymology The word dinner comes from the Old French word disner which in turn comes

• adolescent

  Etymology The word adolescent comes from the Latin word adolescēns meaning a young

• juvenile

  Etymology The word juvenile is derived from the Latin word iuvenis which means youn

• poor

  Etymology The word poor is derived from the Old French word povre which in turn come

• short

  Etymology Etymology noun comes from the Greek words étymos true and logos wo

• euphemism

  Etymology Euphemism derives from the Greek words eu good and phemi speak Mean

• habit

  Etymology The word habit comes from the Old French word abit which is ultimately d

• canon

  Etymology The word canon originates from the Greek word kanōn meaning rule or m

• latitude

  Etymology The word latitude comes from the Middle French latitude which in turn der

• eccentric

  Etymology Eccentric originates from the Latin word eccentricus which means out of th