Word Study
sciolist
CIDE DICTIONARY
sciolist, n. [L. sciolus. See Sciolous.].
One who knows many things superficially; a pretender to science; a smatterer. [1913 Webster]
"These passages in that book were enough to humble the presumption of our modern sciolists, if their pride were not as great as their ignorance." [1913 Webster]
"A master were lauded and sciolists shent." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
sciolist, n. a superficial pretender to knowledge.
Derivative
sciolism n. sciolistic adj.
Etymology
LL sciolus smatterer f. L scire know
ROGET THESAURUS
sciolist
Ignoramus
N ignoramus, dunce, wooden spoon, no scholar, (imbecility) 499 (folly) 501 moron, imbecile, idiot, fool, jerk, nincompoop, asshole, dilettante, sciolist, smatterer, dabbler, half scholar, charlatan, wiseacre, greenhorn, amateur, novice, tyro, numskull, lubber, fool, pedant, bookless, shallow, ignorant, a wit with dunces and a dunce with wits.For further exploring for "sciolist" in Webster Dictionary Online