Beckmesser

noun

Beck·​mes·​ser
ˈbek-ˌme-sər
plural -s
: a critic or teacher of music characterized by timid and excessive reliance upon rules : pedant

Word History

Etymology

German, after Sixtus Beckmesser, pedantic musical philistine in the opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1867) by Richard Wagner †1883 German composer

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Beckmesser

Cite this Entry

“Beckmesser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Beckmesser. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!