insignificantadj.n.

/ɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/

Etymology: < in- prefix⁴ + significant adj., adv., and n.: compare French insignifiant.

A. adj.

1. Devoid of signification or meaning; meaningless: of speech, word, gestures, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > [adjective]

emptya1225

sleevelessc1450

dumb1531

insensible1538

senseless1579

weetless1579

unsignificant1603

surd1605

matterless1612

unmeaning1632

non-significative1633

brute1642

shelly1648

insignificant1651

insignificative1660

unsignificative1664

unsignifying1665

unsensed1667

meaningless1728

bilka1734

meanless1734

inexpressive1744

unideal1751

unexpressive1755

idealess1793

unsuggestive1797

tenorless1821

themeless1840

nonsensible1851

inarticulate1855

purportless1865

expressionless1871

vacuous1872

contentless1886

unmeaningful1897

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. i. 4 The frequency of insignificant speech.

1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron II. vii. ii. 127 Words that suggest no Ideas are insignificant.

1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins I. xiv. 147 By Signs and Gestures, which were very far from being insignificant.

a1859 J. Austin Lect. Jurispr. (1879) II. xliii. 759 The terms ‘Law of Things’ and ‘Law of Persons’ are insignificant, i.e. they give no notion of the purpose of the distinction.

2. Devoid of significance, weight, or force.

†a. Without efficacy; ineffective. ineffectual.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adjective] > ineffective

deadc1380

virtuelessa1393

uneffectuous1549

inefficace1570

limping1577

unprevailing1604

inficient1609

weak1609

unofficious1611

penny farthing1615

invalidable1634

invalid1635

unprevalent1640

ineffectible1650

ineffective1651

inefficacious1658

insignificant1661

uneffective1670

popgun1690

foible1715

unefficacious1744

inefficient1750

ineffectual1785

effete1790

foisonlessc1817

puttering1857

non-effective1862

non-efficient1863

shaftless1881

powder puff1911

fouled-up1942

1661 O. Felltham Resolves (rev. ed.) 249 Nature..must vary from her self, or by a drowsie sloth be rendred insignificant.

a1672 Bp. J. Wilkins Of Princ. Nat. Relig. (1675) i. xi. 164 Laws must be insignificant, without the sanction of Rewards and Punishments.

1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 734 All that Christ hath suffered for us will be insignificant to our discharge from our obligation to punishment unless we repent and amend.

1732 J. Arbuthnot Ess. Nature Aliments (ed. 2) 384 In a Hæmorrhage from the Lungs..Stypticks are often insignificant.

b. Of no importance or moment; immaterial; trivial, trifling; mean, contemptible. (Now usually with some reference to magnitude: cf. A. 3)

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible

unworthlyc1230

wretcha1250

seely1297

vilec1320

not worth a cress (kerse)1377

the value of a rushc1380

threadbarec1412

wretched1450

miserable?a1513

rascal1519

prettya1522

not worth a whistlea1529

pegrall1535

plack1539

pelting1540

scald1542

sleeveless1551

baggage1553

paltering1553

piddling1559

twopenny1560

paltry1565

rubbish1565

baggagely1573

pelfish1577

halfpenny1579

palting1579

baubling1581

three-halfpenny1581

pitiful1582

triobolar1585

squirting1589

not worth a lousea1592

hedge1596

cheap1597

peddling1597

dribbling1600

mean1600

rascally1600

three-farthingc1600

draughty1602

dilute1605

copper1609

peltry?a1610

threepenny1613

pelsy1631

pimping1640

triobolary1644

pigwidgeon1647

dustya1649

fiddling1652

puddlinga1653

insignificant1658

piteous1667

snotty1681

scrubbed1688

dishonourable1699

scrub1711

footy1720

fouty1722

rubbishing1731

chuck-farthing1748

rubbishy1753

shabby1753

scrubby1754

poxya1758

rubbishly1777

waff-like1808

trinkety1817

meanish1831

one-eyed1843

twiddling1844

measly1847

poking1850

picayunish1852

vild1853

picayune1856

snide1859

two-cent1859

rummagy1872

faddling1883

finicking1886

slushy1889

twopence halfpenny1890

jerk1893

pissy1922

crappy1928

two-bit1932

piddly1933

chickenshit1934

pissing1937

penny packet1943

farkakte1960

pony1964

gay1978

1658 R. Newcourt Title to Map of London (title) Some others whose short and insignificant raignes haue left them buried in oblivion.

1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. vii. 123 Things seemingly the most insignificant imaginable, are perpetually observed to be necessary Conditions to other things of the greatest Importance.

1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World II. 16 It is insignificant how remote or near..the object of terror may be.

1813 W. Taylor Eng. Synonyms Introd. 20 Nor can it be wholly insignificant to the diffusion and preservation of our language, to have [etc.].

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiv. 494 The schism which the oaths had produced was, as yet, insignificant.

1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xiv. 218 The Roman loss was insignificant in this battle.

c. Of a person, in regard to position, character, influence, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible > of people

vile1340

light1529

sixpenny1561

single-soled1588

squirting1592

washya1631

insignificant1669

snotty-nosed1682

nerdy1960

nerkish1975

nerdish1980

1669 Earl of Clarendon Ess. in Tracts (1727) 126 No man is so insignificant, as that he can be sure his example can do no hurt.

a1770 J. Jortin Remarks Eccl. Hist. (1773) IV. 104 Jerom wrote against him..and treats him as an insignificant blockhead.

1833 H. Martineau Loom & Lugger ii. v. 79 What matters the ruin of one insignificant Frenchman?

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 84 Thomas Powis, an insignificant man, who had no qualification for high employment except servility.

3. Small in size; petty; mean.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective]

smallOE

littleOE

litec1275

a little wightc1275

petitc1390

weea1525

pusill1599

slender1610

lile1633

scantling1652

piccaninny1707

pinkie1718

insignificant1748

baby1750

leetle1755

tiddy1781

bit1786

inconsiderable1796

itty1798

peerie1808

tittya1825

titty-tottya1825

ickle1846

tiddly1868

peewee1877

lil1881

shirttail1881

inextensive1890

puny1898

liddle1906

pint-sized1921

pint-size1925

peedie1929

tenas1935

itsy-bitsy1938

itty-bitty1940

titchy1950

scrappy1985

the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > small or trifling in amount or degree

eathlyc890

littleOE

slender1530

foolish1533

triflinga1538

paltry1565

puny?1594

mean1599

minikin1617

unconsiderable1643

inconsiderable1648

punctilio1660

sneaking1703

insignificant1748

flimsy1756

peppercornish1762

peppercorn1791

microscopic1798

pindling1861

midget1879

diddly1893

scroddyc1909

chickenshit1934

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. vi. 64 No other wood has been found than a few insignificant shrubs.

1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 17 If Mont Blanc could be transported to the foot of Chimboraço, Chimboraço, all prodigious as it is supposed, would appear of very insignificant dimensions.

1844 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VIII. lxvi. 460 Thebes had sunk to an insignificant village.

B. n.

a. A word or thing without signification.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > [noun] > instance of

non-significant1605

nonsense1650

insignificancy1651

mean-nothing1654

insignificant1816

unmeaningness1864

phlizz1889

small fry1893

1816 J. Gilchrist Philos. Etymol. 125 A few experiments upon the terminations in question, will probably convince the reader that they are merely connectives; and he will recollect..that connectives are nearly akin to insignificants.

b. An unimportant or contemptible person.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > one who is unimportant > paltry, mean, or contemptible

turdc1400

shrub1566

skybala1572

peltera1577

whipstart1581

smatchetc1582

squib1586

paltripolitan1588

scrub1589

Jack-a-Lent1596

snotty-nose1604

whipstera1616

whimling1616

whiffler1659

insignificancy1661

insect1684

insignificant1710

pic1839

squirt1844

whiffmagig1871

sniff1890

picayune1903

1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 247. ⁋6 If we are the Insignificants that others call us, Where is the Triumph in deceiving us?

1785 Lounger No. 16. 63 I despised the giddy restless insignificants that figured in this perpetual drama.

Derivatives

† insigˈnificantness n. Obsolete (Bailey 1727).

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2020).

单词	insignificant
释义	insignificantadj.n. /ɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/ Etymology: < in- prefix⁴ + significant adj., adv., and n.: compare French insignifiant. A. adj. 1. Devoid of signification or meaning; meaningless: of speech, word, gestures, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > [adjective] emptya1225 sleevelessc1450 dumb1531 insensible1538 senseless1579 weetless1579 unsignificant1603 surd1605 matterless1612 unmeaning1632 non-significative1633 brute1642 shelly1648 insignificant1651 insignificative1660 unsignificative1664 unsignifying1665 unsensed1667 meaningless1728 bilka1734 meanless1734 inexpressive1744 unideal1751 unexpressive1755 idealess1793 unsuggestive1797 tenorless1821 themeless1840 nonsensible1851 inarticulate1855 purportless1865 expressionless1871 vacuous1872 contentless1886 unmeaningful1897 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. i. 4 The frequency of insignificant speech. 1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron II. vii. ii. 127 Words that suggest no Ideas are insignificant. 1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins I. xiv. 147 By Signs and Gestures, which were very far from being insignificant. a1859 J. Austin Lect. Jurispr. (1879) II. xliii. 759 The terms ‘Law of Things’ and ‘Law of Persons’ are insignificant, i.e. they give no notion of the purpose of the distinction. 2. Devoid of significance, weight, or force. †a. Without efficacy; ineffective. ineffectual. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adjective] > ineffective deadc1380 virtuelessa1393 uneffectuous1549 inefficace1570 limping1577 unprevailing1604 inficient1609 weak1609 unofficious1611 penny farthing1615 invalidable1634 invalid1635 unprevalent1640 ineffectible1650 ineffective1651 inefficacious1658 insignificant1661 uneffective1670 popgun1690 foible1715 unefficacious1744 inefficient1750 ineffectual1785 effete1790 foisonlessc1817 puttering1857 non-effective1862 non-efficient1863 shaftless1881 powder puff1911 fouled-up1942 1661 O. Felltham Resolves (rev. ed.) 249 Nature..must vary from her self, or by a drowsie sloth be rendred insignificant. a1672 Bp. J. Wilkins Of Princ. Nat. Relig. (1675) i. xi. 164 Laws must be insignificant, without the sanction of Rewards and Punishments. 1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 734 All that Christ hath suffered for us will be insignificant to our discharge from our obligation to punishment unless we repent and amend. 1732 J. Arbuthnot Ess. Nature Aliments (ed. 2) 384 In a Hæmorrhage from the Lungs..Stypticks are often insignificant. b. Of no importance or moment; immaterial; trivial, trifling; mean, contemptible. (Now usually with some reference to magnitude: cf. A. 3) ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible unworthlyc1230 wretcha1250 seely1297 vilec1320 not worth a cress (kerse)1377 the value of a rushc1380 threadbarec1412 wretched1450 miserable?a1513 rascal1519 prettya1522 not worth a whistlea1529 pegrall1535 plack1539 pelting1540 scald1542 sleeveless1551 baggage1553 paltering1553 piddling1559 twopenny1560 paltry1565 rubbish1565 baggagely1573 pelfish1577 halfpenny1579 palting1579 baubling1581 three-halfpenny1581 pitiful1582 triobolar1585 squirting1589 not worth a lousea1592 hedge1596 cheap1597 peddling1597 dribbling1600 mean1600 rascally1600 three-farthingc1600 draughty1602 dilute1605 copper1609 peltry?a1610 threepenny1613 pelsy1631 pimping1640 triobolary1644 pigwidgeon1647 dustya1649 fiddling1652 puddlinga1653 insignificant1658 piteous1667 snotty1681 scrubbed1688 dishonourable1699 scrub1711 footy1720 fouty1722 rubbishing1731 chuck-farthing1748 rubbishy1753 shabby1753 scrubby1754 poxya1758 rubbishly1777 waff-like1808 trinkety1817 meanish1831 one-eyed1843 twiddling1844 measly1847 poking1850 picayunish1852 vild1853 picayune1856 snide1859 two-cent1859 rummagy1872 faddling1883 finicking1886 slushy1889 twopence halfpenny1890 jerk1893 pissy1922 crappy1928 two-bit1932 piddly1933 chickenshit1934 pissing1937 penny packet1943 farkakte1960 pony1964 gay1978 1658 R. Newcourt Title to Map of London (title) Some others whose short and insignificant raignes haue left them buried in oblivion. 1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. vii. 123 Things seemingly the most insignificant imaginable, are perpetually observed to be necessary Conditions to other things of the greatest Importance. 1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World II. 16 It is insignificant how remote or near..the object of terror may be. 1813 W. Taylor Eng. Synonyms Introd. 20 Nor can it be wholly insignificant to the diffusion and preservation of our language, to have [etc.]. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiv. 494 The schism which the oaths had produced was, as yet, insignificant. 1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xiv. 218 The Roman loss was insignificant in this battle. c. Of a person, in regard to position, character, influence, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible > of people vile1340 light1529 sixpenny1561 single-soled1588 squirting1592 washya1631 insignificant1669 snotty-nosed1682 nerdy1960 nerkish1975 nerdish1980 1669 Earl of Clarendon Ess. in Tracts (1727) 126 No man is so insignificant, as that he can be sure his example can do no hurt. a1770 J. Jortin Remarks Eccl. Hist. (1773) IV. 104 Jerom wrote against him..and treats him as an insignificant blockhead. 1833 H. Martineau Loom & Lugger ii. v. 79 What matters the ruin of one insignificant Frenchman? 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 84 Thomas Powis, an insignificant man, who had no qualification for high employment except servility. 3. Small in size; petty; mean. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] smallOE littleOE litec1275 a little wightc1275 petitc1390 weea1525 pusill1599 slender1610 lile1633 scantling1652 piccaninny1707 pinkie1718 insignificant1748 baby1750 leetle1755 tiddy1781 bit1786 inconsiderable1796 itty1798 peerie1808 tittya1825 titty-tottya1825 ickle1846 tiddly1868 peewee1877 lil1881 shirttail1881 inextensive1890 puny1898 liddle1906 pint-sized1921 pint-size1925 peedie1929 tenas1935 itsy-bitsy1938 itty-bitty1940 titchy1950 scrappy1985 the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > small or trifling in amount or degree eathlyc890 littleOE slender1530 foolish1533 triflinga1538 paltry1565 puny?1594 mean1599 minikin1617 unconsiderable1643 inconsiderable1648 punctilio1660 sneaking1703 insignificant1748 flimsy1756 peppercornish1762 peppercorn1791 microscopic1798 pindling1861 midget1879 diddly1893 scroddyc1909 chickenshit1934 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. vi. 64 No other wood has been found than a few insignificant shrubs. 1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 17 If Mont Blanc could be transported to the foot of Chimboraço, Chimboraço, all prodigious as it is supposed, would appear of very insignificant dimensions. 1844 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VIII. lxvi. 460 Thebes had sunk to an insignificant village. B. n. a. A word or thing without signification. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > [noun] > instance of non-significant1605 nonsense1650 insignificancy1651 mean-nothing1654 insignificant1816 unmeaningness1864 phlizz1889 small fry1893 1816 J. Gilchrist Philos. Etymol. 125 A few experiments upon the terminations in question, will probably convince the reader that they are merely connectives; and he will recollect..that connectives are nearly akin to insignificants. b. An unimportant or contemptible person. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > one who is unimportant > paltry, mean, or contemptible turdc1400 shrub1566 skybala1572 peltera1577 whipstart1581 smatchetc1582 squib1586 paltripolitan1588 scrub1589 Jack-a-Lent1596 snotty-nose1604 whipstera1616 whimling1616 whiffler1659 insignificancy1661 insect1684 insignificant1710 pic1839 squirt1844 whiffmagig1871 sniff1890 picayune1903 1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 247. ⁋6 If we are the Insignificants that others call us, Where is the Triumph in deceiving us? 1785 Lounger No. 16. 63 I despised the giddy restless insignificants that figured in this perpetual drama. Derivatives † insigˈnificantness n. Obsolete (Bailey 1727). This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2020). < adj.n.1651
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