# Crepid ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008 "2004-05-25T16:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thirsty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Thirsty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirsty)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/1 "2004-05-25T16:20:50Z")
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](http://www.vmyths.com). I get ultra and arian, itโ€™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) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/2 "2004-05-25T16:34:42Z")
> [@](#): > > 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_](http://www.archaeology-wordsmith.com/cgi-bin/lookup.cgi?category=&where=headword&terms=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. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/3 "2004-05-25T16:39:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/4 "2004-05-25T17:48:57Z")
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 is[recorded](http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/gellius13.html) to have been a very poor advisor to several caesars. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/5 "2004-05-25T18:14:56Z")
I am shameless. Herein lies [the real answer.](http://www.quinion.com/words/weirdwords/ww-ult1.htm) ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/6 "2004-05-25T18:49:23Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > I am shameless. This must be the funniest thing Iโ€™ve read all week. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/7 "2004-05-25T19:24:46Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > This must be the funniest thing Iโ€™ve read all week. ๐Ÿ™‚ โ€ฆ I think :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/8 "2004-05-25T23:33:12Z")
> [@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 is[recorded](http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/gellius13.html) to have been a very poor advisor to several caesars. His real name was Cliffus Clavinus ๐Ÿ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Thirsty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Thirsty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirsty)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crepid/247008/9 "2004-05-26T20:07:03Z")
was not what I thought it was, providing for the confusion. Thanks. ๐Ÿ™‚