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Cretinize(v.) [ 'kri:tənaiz ]

Definition:

to reduce to a condition of extreme stupidity

（使）变成白痴

to reduce to a condition of extreme stupidity

（使）变成白痴

The word cretinize comes, rather obviously, from the older word cretin.

很显然，cretinize来自于古代单词cretin。

This older word is most commonly used today in the sense of "a stupid, vulgar, or insensitive person," although it initially meant "one affected with cretinism" (a genetic abnormality, and using cretin in this sense is now considered quite offensive).

Cretin现在通常用来指代“愚蠢的、粗俗的、迟钝的人”，但其最初的含义是“呆小症”（一种遗传畸形，现在用cretin来指代这种遗传病是很不礼貌的）。

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Blinkard (n.)

Definition:

a stupid, slow-witted, or obtuse person

蠢人，呆子，头脑迟钝的人

a stupid, slow-witted, or obtuse person

蠢人，呆子，头脑迟钝的人

The original meaning of blinkard was "one that blinks with or as if with weak eyes," which soon added the pejorative meaning listed above.

Blinkard本来的意思是指“眯着眼睛的弱视者或像弱视一样眯着眼睛的人”，不久后又包含了“笨人、蠢人”这层贬义。

If you are a person who blinks often please accept our apologies for the English language, which can on occasion be needlessly cruel.

如果你是一个经常眯眼睛的人，我替英语向你表示歉意，它有时太过“毒舌”了。

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Dunderheaded (adj.)

Definition:

being a dunderhead

蠢的，笨的

being a dunderhead

蠢的，笨的

What is a dunder, and why do we use this word to insult people in a somewhat mild fashion? Alas, this is but one more unknowable in a long line of things that etymology has not yet figured out.

Dunder是什么意思，为什么人们要用这个词委婉地羞辱人？唉，这也是众多尚未弄清词源的单词之一。

It may come from the Dutch word for "thunder" (donder), but no one is sure about that. What we are sure about is that there are a great number of words for "stupid" or "stupid person" ending in -headed or head.

Dunder可能起源于荷兰语donder，意思是“雷声”，但还没有确切的证据。我们可以肯定的是，很多表示“愚蠢”、“蠢人”的单词都是以-headed或-head结尾的。

比如下面列出的部分单词：

airhead

blockhead

bonehead

bullhead

bubblehead

buffle-headed

butthead

chucklehead

deadhead

fathead

flathead

hammerhead

heavy-headed

idleheaded

ironhead

jolt-headed

jughead

knucklehead

loggerheaded

lunkhead

meathead

muddlehead

pinhead

pinheaded

ramhead

saphead

sheepheaded

sheepshead

thickhead

wooden-headed

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Addlepated (adj.) [ 'ædl,peitid ]

Definition:

stupid and confused, mixed up, or eccentric

头脑不清的，愚蠢的，怪僻的

stupid and confused, mixed up, or eccentric

头脑不清的，愚蠢的，怪僻的

The pate portion of addlepated comes from an older word for "head," in use since Middle English, and of uncertain origin.

Addlepated的前半部分来自于中古英语中表示“头部”的单词，其词源不能确定。

The addle portion may be traced back to the Old English word adela, meaning “filth, filthy or foul-smelling place.” As an adjective addle first had the meaning of “foul smelling and putrid” (specifically said of an egg), and later came to mean “confused or muddled.”

Addle可能起源于古英语单词adela，意思是“肮脏、污秽和恶臭的地方”，做形容词时最早用来形容“恶臭的、腐烂的气味”（尤指臭鸡蛋的味道），后来又包含了“困惑的、混乱的”意思。

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Nescient (adj.) [ 'nesiənt ]

Definition:

exhibiting or characterized by nescience: ignorant, agnostic

无知的，没有知识的

exhibiting or characterized by nescience: ignorant, agnostic

无知的，没有知识的

Nescient, science, and omniscient all share a root: each comes in part from the Latin word scire, meaning “to know.” Nescience, then, is "lack of knowledge or awareness."

Nescient, science（科学）和 omniscient（无所不知的）的词根都是拉丁语单词scire，意为“知道，了解”。Nescience则是“无知”的意思。

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Bêtise (n.) [ be'ti:z ]

Definition:

an act of foolishness or stupidity

愚蠢的行为

an act of foolishness or stupidity

愚蠢的行为

Bêtise came to English from the French word bête, which has the meaning in that language of "idiot," or, more literally, "beast".

Bêtise来自于法语单词bête。Bête在法语中表示“白痴”，更字面的解释是“畜生”的意思。

In addition to an act of stupidity, bêtise may refer to stupidity or ignorance in general.

除了指愚蠢的行为外，bêtise一般也可以表示“蠢”或“无知”。

end

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