[identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] 1word1day
grammatolatry (gram-muh-TOL-uh-tree) - n., the worship of words or letters; excessive concern for the letter (of a rule) instead of the spirit, literalism.


Not, alas, a worship of grammar, though it is used to describe grammar-nazis. May be a result of being a grammataster. Or a lawyer. One of a large list of -olatry words of worship (from Greek latreía, service, worship), joined in this case with Greek grammato- (from gramma, letter). Verbolatry.

"The worship of words is more pernicious than the worship of images -- grammatolatry is the worst species of idolatry."

—Robert Dale Owen (1871)

---L.

(no subject)

Date: 2012-09-27 05:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ellesieg.livejournal.com
Ooh, this one is going into my word notebook!

(no subject)

Date: 2012-09-30 02:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rainbow-yarn.livejournal.com
Fabulous word!!
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