beadledom

[ beed-l-duhm ]

noun

1. a stupid or officious display or exercise of authority associated with petty officials, and historically epitomized in England’s parish beadles, who kept order in the church and the poorhouse.

beadledom

/ ˈbiːdəldəm /

noun

1. petty officialdom

Word History and Origins

Origin of beadledom¹

First recorded in 1855–60; beadle + -dom

Example Sentences

There Bung and Beadledom, with their vested rights, hold sway; there the scribblers who wear plush find encouragement and promotion; while the corrupting influence of modern finance has nursed into life and strength a swarm of gamblers in stocks, promoters of bubble companies, tricksters in trade, and music-hall cads—a sorry replacement of the honest mercers and trusty apprentices of the Parliamentary times.

From Project Gutenberg

A beadle in magnificent livery, and of an unusually civil character—for beadledom is generally a terror to our species—meets us. 

From Project Gutenberg

After some research we find that "the House of Keys" is something or other in the Isle of Man, answering probably to the vestry of a parish, the beadledom of an arcade, or some other small local authority.

From Project Gutenberg

Possibly it was the familiarity with divine things which synagogue beadledom involves that had bred his contempt for them.

From Project Gutenberg

She knows that this assumption of spiritual beadledom is mere affectation, and that other minds have as much right to their own boundary lines as she claims for herself; but it seems to her pretty to assume that woman generally is the consecrated beadle of thought and morality, and that she, of all women, is most specially consecrated.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• administration
• authority
• civil service
• management
• ministry
• red tape