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pernickety

[ per-nik-i-tee ]

adjective



pernickety

/ pəˈnɪkɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. excessively precise and attentive to detail; fussy
  2. (of a task) requiring close attention; exacting
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • perˈnicketiness, noun
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Other Words From

  • per·nicket·i·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pernickety1

1800–10; originally Scots; of uncertain origin; the prefix per- occurs in a number of other expressive words in Scots, e.g. pergaddus thump, clatter, perskeet fastidious, perjink trim, neat
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pernickety1

C19: originally Scottish, of unknown origin
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Example Sentences

Personally, I think #cupgate took root because we are pernickety idiots who love to think we would never make a mistake on that scale and actually could do a far better job of things.

I enjoyed the pernickety details of style, and found etymology rewarding.

Soon, however, he was making it feel very pernickety to dwell on such minor lapses.

And, if Us failed to deliver the same body blow – you can’t pull off that sort of trick twice – it was perhaps because it was hard to love its pernickety, middle-aged narrator.

I thought to myself: “I never knew Ian was so virile, so military in his bearing, such a pernickety sergeant-major of a man.”

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pernicious anemiaPernik