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cretin

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The definition of a cretin is a very stupid person, or a person suffering from the disease cretinism, which causes mental problems and deformity.

(noun)

An example of a cretin is a person who constantly makes stupid and horrible mistakes.
An example of a cretin is someone with physical deformities due to the disease.

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See cretin in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a person suffering from cretinism
a very stupid or foolish person

Origin: Fr crétin, dial. form of chrétien; lit., Christian, hence human being (in contrast to brutes) < LL(Ec) Christianus, Christian: sense development as in silly

Related Forms:

cretinous adjective

See cretin in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A person afflicted with cretinism.
Slang An idiot.

Origin:

Origin: French crétin

Origin: , from French dialectal, deformed and mentally retarded person found in certain Alpine valleys

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *christiānus, Christian, human being, poor fellow

Origin: , from Latin Chrīstiānus, Christian; see Christian

.

Related Forms:

creˈtin·oidˌ (-oidˌ) adjective

creˈtin·ous (-əs) adjective

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