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Ignoramus

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an ignorant or stupid person

Where does the word "ignoramus" come from? It comes from Latin ignōrāmus, adopted directly into English (1610s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
ignōrāmus
Latin · ancient
"we do not know"
'we do not know', from 'ignōrāre'
2
Stage 2 of 2
ignoramus
English · 1610s
"ignorant person"
grand juries wrote it on indictments they rejected; George Ruggle's 1615 play 'Ignoramus' made it the name of a foolish lawyer
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Read the full story

Ignoramus’s story begins in Latin: ignōrāmus meant “we do not know.” 'we do not know', from 'ignōrāre'. It reached English by 1610s as ignoramus. Grand juries wrote it on indictments they rejected; George Ruggle's 1615 play 'Ignoramus' made it the name of a foolish lawyer. Today, ignoramus means an ignorant or stupid person.