Nudnik is a noun referring to a person who is a bore or nuisance. The suffix '-nik' comes from Yiddish and is often used to create words humorously or slightly derogatorily.
Nudnik es un sustantivo que se refiere a una persona que es una molestia o aburrimiento. El sufijo '-nik' proviene del yiddish y se usa a menudo para crear palabras de forma humorística o ligeramente despectiva.
| Word | nudnik |
|---|---|
| Date | May 23, 2017 |
| Type | noun |
| Syllables | NOOD-nik (the "OO" is as in "good") |
| Etymology | The suffix -nik came to English through Yiddish (and ultimately from Polish and Ukrainian). It means "one connected with or characterized by being." You might be familiar with beatnik, peacenik, or neatnik, but what about no-goodnik or allrightnik? The suffix -nik is frequently used in English to create nonce words that are often jocular or slightly derogatory. Some theorize that the popularity of the suffix was enhanced by Russian Sputnik, as well as Al Capp's frequent use of -nik words in his L'il Abner cartoons. The nud- of the Yiddish borrowing nudnik ultimately comes from the Polish nuda, meaning "boredom." |
| Examples | James worried that he would never finish his work if the office nudnik didn't quit hanging around his cubicle. "Others may enjoy its gentle comedy, its plentiful caricatures and easy jokes, its lightweight tone. However, I found most of its characters to be obnoxious, insufferable nudniks who never shut up or mind their own business or resemble real human beings." — John Serba, The Flint (Michigan) Journal, 27 Mar. 2017 |
| Definition | : a person who is a bore or nuisance |
Tags: wordoftheday::noun
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