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Webster 1913 Edition


Trumpery

Trump′er-y

,
Noun.
[F.
tromperie
deceit, fr.
tromper
to deceive. See
Trump
to trick.]
1.
Deceit; fraud.
[Obs.]
Grenewey.
2.
Something serving to deceive by false show or pretense; falsehood; deceit; worthless but showy matter; hence, things worn out and of no value; rubbish.
The
trumpery
in my house, go bring it hither,
for state to catch these thieves.
Shakespeare
Upon the coming of Christ, very much, though not all, of this idolatrous
trumpery
and superstition was driven out of the world.
South.

Trump′er-y

,
Adj.
Worthless or deceptive in character.
“A trumpery little ring.”
Thackeray.

Webster 1828 Edition


Trumpery

TRUMP'ERY

,
Noun.
Falsehood; empty talk.
1.
Useless matter; things worn out and cast side.
[This is the sense of the word in New England.]

Definition 2024


trumpery

trumpery

English

Trumpery (bric-a-brac) for sale at a flea market in León, Guanajuato, Mexico

Noun

trumpery (plural trumperies)

  1. Worthless finery; bric-a-brac or junk.
    • 1610, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act IV, scene 1:
      PROSPERO.[To Ariel]
      This was well done, my bird.
      Thy shape invisible retain thou still:
      The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither
      For stale to catch these thieves.
  2. Nonsense.
    • 1698, Robert South, “The Lineal Descent of Jesus of Nazareth from David by his Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary. Proved in a Discourse on Rev. xxii. 16.”, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Subjects and Occasions, volume III, London: Printed by Tho[mas] Warren for Thomas Bennet, OCLC 272362693; republished as Twelve Sermons upon Several Subjects and Occasions, volume III, 6th edition, London: Printed by J. Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, at the Rose in Pater-noster Row, 1727, OCLC 85047152, page 287:
      Now upon the coming of Chriſt, very much, tho' not all, of this idolatrous Trumpery and Superſtition was driven out of the World: []
  3. (obsolete) Deceit; fraud.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Grenewey to this entry?)

Translations

Adjective

trumpery (not comparable)

  1. Gaudy but of no value.
    • 1872 February 3, A. R. Adams, “The Birmingham Law Students' Society”, in The Law Times: The Journal and Record of the Law and the Lawyers, volume LII, London: Published at the Office of the Law Times, Wellington Street, Strand, W.C., OCLC 5120680, pages 259–260:
      He earnestly exhorted them all to be earnest in their studies, and to think nothing beneath them. Let them not pass over any cases as unimportant; for they must remember that some of the greatest principles of the law had been enunciated out of the most apparently trumpery cases that had come before the judges.
    • 1954, Anthony Buckeridge, According to Jennings, London: William Collins, Sons, OCLC 255905255; republished London: Stratus Books, 2003, ISBN 978-0-7551-0165-8, page 136:
      “Of all the trumpery moonshine!” Mr Wilkins exploded. “What do you think you're playing at, Jennings!”