parergy

English

Etymology

Latin parergon, Ancient Greek πάρεργον (párergon); παρά (pará, “beside”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpæɹə(ɹ)d͡ʒi/

Noun

parergy (plural parergies)

1. (obsolete) Something unimportant, incidental, or superfluous; a trifle
   • 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:

     Wherefore the Scriptures being serious, and commonly omitting such parergies, it will be unreasonable from hence to condemn all laughter

References

• “parergy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• grapery