pernickety or persnickety

The original Scottish dialect form was “pernickety,” but Americanschanged it to “persnickety” a century ago. “Pernickety” is generallyunknown in the US though it’s still in wide use across the Atlantic.

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• blindsighted vs blindsided
• whimp vs wimp
• intergrate vs integrate
• soar vs sore
• extend vs extent
• flys vs flies
• pastorial vs pastoral
• notate vs note
• interment vs internment
• seam vs seem

Definitions

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• s  characterized by excessive precision and attention to trivial details

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• s  (used colloquially) overly conceited or arrogant
  they're snobs--stuck-up and uppity and persnickety
• s  characterized by excessive precision and attention to trivial details
  a persnickety job
  a persnickety school teacher

News & Articles

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• Mad Men: The Other Bob Benson Shoe Drops
  [Spoilers for those who haven’t seen tonight’s episode.] Last week we saw Bob Benson give Pete Campbell a loaded knee-nudge of dedication, sparking a display of panic and disgust that was filled with even more persnickety-Pete righteousness than most previous Campbell high-water marks. So was this all there was to ... More »
  June 17, 2013 - Vulture
• Mad Men: The Other Bob Benson Shoe Drops
  [Spoilers for those who haven’t seen tonight’s episode.] Last week we saw Bob Benson give Pete Campbell a loaded knee-nudge of dedication, sparking a display of panic and disgust that was filled with even more persnickety-Pete righteousness than most previous Campbell high-water marks. So was this all there was to ... More »
  June 17, 2013 - Vulture