duncedomn.
/ˈdʌnsdəm/, U.S. /ˈdənsdəm/ 1. Literary dunces collectively (see dunce n. 4); the state or reputation of being a literary dunce. Also in extended use with reference to other art forms.
ΚΠ
1829 T. Carlyle Voltaire in Misc. Ess. (1872) II. 151 In the midst of that warfare with united Duncedom.
1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 21 Apr. 110 One who displays the true characteristic of Duncedom by having mastered the musical jargon which he has often found will take in the uninitiated.
1886 H. A. Beers Outl. Sketch Eng. Lit. 173 Flecknoe, an obscure Irish poetaster,..about to retire from the throne of duncedom.
1907 Forum Jan. 374 Theobald has received his full rehabilitation from duncedom to a high place among Shakespearean scholars.
1985 J. A. Genster ‘These Veracious Pages’: Epist. & its Audiences from Dryden to Austen (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Calif. Berkeley) I. 24 Augustan literature reminds us frequently and fiercely that duncedom will fight for whatever literary territory is open.
2. The state or condition of being stupid, ignorant, or uneducated; (also) stupid, ignorant, or uneducated people collectively.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [noun]
hardnessOE
stuntnessc1000
sotshipc1050
witlessnessa1100
sotheada1200
dullness1398
bluntness1483
slowness1495
grossnessa1530
stupidity?1541
assishness?1548
dastardness1552
lourderie1555
dastardliness1556
blockishness1561
doltishness1569
sottage1569
sheepishness1574
doltry1581
sottishness1589
doltage1593
dorbellism1593
grout-headry1600
opacity1611
duncery1615
dunstery1615
stupidness1619
hebetude1621
insulsity1623
unintelligence1634
obtuseness1648
jobbernowlism1652
dullery1653
non-intelligence1653
blockheadishness1656
crassness1664
blockheadedness1716
stolidness1727
blockheadism1753
numbskullity1779
nincompoophood1791
duncishness1805
numbskullism1806
foziness1821
noodledum1821
obtusity1823
soft-headedness1823
noodledom1827
duncehood1829
dunderheadedness1830
sumphishness1830
asininity1831
dunderheadism1836
stockishness1837
dullardness1840
fat-headedness1840
stupor1845
duncedom1847
misintelligence1848
nincompoopery1850
wooden-headedness1850
dumminess1852
jolterheadedness1852
ninnyship1852
donkeyism1855
dumbness1860
beef-wittedness1863
crassitude1865
donkeyhood1869
slow-wittedness1869
chuckle-headedness1880
leatherheadedness1880
pinheadedness1884
numbskulledness1885
donkeydom1889
thickheadedness1889
density1894
moronism1922
nitwittedness1931
nitwittery1931
noodleness1931
dopiness1942
squirrel-headedness1955
nincompoopism1957
dim-wittedness1960
clottishness1961
1847 Bristol Mercury 9 Oct. 6/3 But that they could ever put down the search for knowledge, or make duncedom lawful, he altogether denied.
1895 Eclectic Mag. Dec. 763/2 The raising of our regimental officers from duncedom to skilled professional knowledge.
1912 Pacific Med. Jrnl. 55 402 Science..was amply armed with an inexhaustible supply of missiles, of a kind calculated to scatter the hosts of duncedom in dire confusion.
2015 Free Press Jrnl. (India) (Nexis) 13 Jan. The Cockney lad, is alas and alack, a genius who is being squashed into duncedom by an abusive stepdad.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1829