- gumption
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noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1719
1. chiefly dialect common sense, horse sense
2. enterprise, initiative <lacked the gumption to try>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
gumption
Look at other dictionaries:
Gumption — Gump tion, n. [OE. gom, gome, attention; akin to AS. ge[ o]mian, gyman, to regard, observe, gyme care, OS. gomean to heed, Goth. gaumjan to see, notice.] [1913 Webster] 1. Capacity; shrewdness; common sense. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] One does not… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
gumption — 1719, originally Scottish, common sense, shrewdness, also drive, initiative, possibly connected with M.E. gome attention, heed, from O.N. gaumr heed, attention. Sense of initiative is first recorded 1812 … Etymology dictionary
gumption — *sense, common sense, good sense, judgment, wisdom Analogous words: sagaciousness or sagacity, shrewdness, perspicaciousness or perspicacity, astuteness (see corresponding adjectives at SHREWD) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
gumption — [n] nerve, initiative ability, acumen, astuteness, cleverness, commonsense, discernment, enterprise, get up and go*, good sense, horse sense*, industry, judgment, perspicaciousness, perspicacity, resourcefulness, sagaciousness, sagacity, savvy,… … New thesaurus
gumption — ► NOUN informal ▪ shrewd initiative and resourcefulness. ORIGIN of unknown origin … English terms dictionary
gumption — [gump′shən] n. [< Scot dial. < ? ME gome, attention (< ON gaumr), with playful Latinate suffix] Informal 1. Obs. shrewdness in practical matters; common sense 2. courage and initiative; enterprise and boldness … English World dictionary
gumption — n. (colloq.) courage the gumption to + inf. (will she have enough gumption to refuse?) * * * [ gʌmpʃ(ə)n] (colloq.) [ courage ] the gumption to + inf. (will she have enough gumption to refuse?) … Combinatory dictionary
gumption — [[t]gʌ̱mpʃ(ə)n[/t]] 1) N UNCOUNT If someone has gumption, they are able to think what it would be sensible to do in a particular situation, and they do it. [INFORMAL] We now find that common sense, or what used to be called gumption, is a thing… … English dictionary
gumption — gumptionless, adj. gumptious, adj. /gump sheuhn/, n. Informal. 1. initiative; aggressiveness; resourcefulness: With his gumption he ll make a success of himself. 2. courage; spunk; guts: It takes gumption to quit a high paying job. 3. common… … Universalium
gumption — gump|tion [ˈgʌmpʃən] n [U] [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: Perhaps from gome attention (13 19 centuries), from Old Norse gaumr] the ability and determination to decide what needs to be done and to do it ▪ At least she had the gumption to phone me … Dictionary of contemporary English
