English edit

Etymology edit

From Late Latin mammothreptus (kept at the breast too long), from Koine Greek μαμμόθρεπτος (mammóthreptos, brought up by one’s grandmother), from Ancient Greek μάμμη (mámmē, grandmother) + θρεπτός (threptós) verbal adjective from τρέφω (tréphō, to bring up).

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈmaməθɹɛpt/
    • (file)

Noun edit

mammothrept (plural mammothrepts)

  1. (archaic) A spoiled child.
    • 1601, Ben Jonson, Fountaine of Selfe-love, act IV scene 3:
      O, you are a meere mammothrept in judgement, then. Why, doe you not obserue how excellently the dittie is affected in euerie place?
    • 1947, Robertson Davies, The Diary of Samuel Marchbanks:
      She concludes, "you better apologize." The day I apologize to you, you contumacious mammothrept, there will be two moons in the sky.
    • 1970, Patrick O'Brian, Master & Commander:
      ‘And having seen the parents I am impatient to see this youth, the fruit of their strangely unattractive loins: will he be a wretched mammothrept?’

Translations edit