Crepid ?

[Thirsty]

I came across this word:

ultracrepidarian: (n., adj.) a person who gives opinions beyond his scope of knowledge.

It is in reference to False Authority Syndrome on the web site www.vmyths.com.

I get ultra and arian, it’s the crepid part that I am having problems with. English is not one of my strong points, so out comes the dictionary. The funny thing is crepid is not in the dictionary, or any on-line dictionary.

I got a Latin hit and tried a latin-english dictionary but the meaning, foundation could be knowledge.

I also got a hit on a couple of shoe makers in Rome a while back.

I thought crepid meant weak, old, grungy.

What does crepid mean?

Thirsty (as in for knowledge)

[UncleBeer]

I thought crepid meant weak, old, grungy.

That would be decrepit.

Middle English, from Old French, from Latin decrepitus, worn out, feeble : de-, de- + crepitus past participle of crepare, to burst, crack.

Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, 1992.

However, see:
crepido

DEFINITION: In Roman antiquity, a kind of base or stand upon which another object rests, and by analogy the embankment of a quay, a dike, or jetty. Also used for the raised causeway for foot passengers at the side of a road or street (as in Pompeii) or for the platforms or stages around a great altar.

[UncleBeer]

Whoops. The implication being that crepido meaning base, or footing, an ultracrepidarian would be one who is expounding outside the knowledge in which he has a strong footing.

Maybe. Maybe not.

[Inigo_Montoya]

Just as the mythical weaver Arachne was transformed into a spider and thus had and entire order of arthropds named after her, So to did the Roman Crepidarios have his name transformed into a byword of incompetence due to his astoundingly bad counsel.

My ancient history is a little rusty, but Crepidarios isrecorded to have been a very poor advisor to several caesars.

[Inigo_Montoya]

I am shameless.

Herein lies the real answer.

[TellMeI_mNotCrazy]

@Inigo Montoya

I am shameless.

This must be the funniest thing I’ve read all week.

[Inigo_Montoya]

@TellMeI'mNotCrazy

This must be the funniest thing I’ve read all week.

… I think :dubious:

[Backwater_Under_Duck]

@Inigo Montoya

Just as the mythical weaver Arachne was transformed into a spider and thus had and entire order of arthropds named after her, So to did the Roman Crepidarios have his name transformed into a byword of incompetence due to his astoundingly bad counsel.

My ancient history is a little rusty, but Crepidarios isrecorded to have been a very poor advisor to several caesars.

His real name was Cliffus Clavinus

[Thirsty]

was not what I thought it was, providing for the confusion. Thanks.