ignoramus
UK[ˌɪɡnəˈreɪməs]US[ˌɪɡnəˈreɪməs]
n
An ignorant or stupid person.
Morpheme Breakdown
ignor
amus
ignor
to not know
amus
we are
Etymology
The word 'ignoramus' has a direct and fascinating origin in legal history. It comes from the Latin verb ignorare, meaning "to not know," combined with the first-person plural verb ending -amus, meaning "we are." In 16th-century English law courts, a grand jury would write "ignoramus" on an indictment they considered to be based on insufficient evidence, literally meaning "we take no notice of it" or "we do not know (of a case to answer)." Over time, this legal term of dismissal was misinterpreted by the public as a label for an ignorant lawyer or, more broadly, any profoundly ignorant person, solidifying its modern meaning as a noun for a foolish or uninformed individual.
Analysis
Structure: ignor (to not know) + amus (we are)
ignor is from Latin ignorare (to not know, to be ignorant). amus is the first-person plural present indicative ending of a Latin verb, meaning "we are".
Examples
He proved himself a complete ignoramus on matters of basic science.
Don't ask him for financial advice; he's an utter ignoramus when it comes to money.
She refused to be treated like an ignoramus and enrolled in night classes.