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Does hackney come from the name of an English town?
Hackney entered the English language in the 14th century as a noun. Some think perhaps it came from "Hakeneye" (now "Hackney"), the name of a town (now a borough) in England. Others dispute this explanation, pointing to similar forms in other European languages. The noun "hackney," in any case, refers to a horse suitable for ordinary riding or driving-as opposed to one used as a draft animal or a war charger. When "hackney" was first used as a verb in the late 16th century, it often meant "to make common or frequent use of." Later, it meant "to make trite, vulgar, or commonplace." The adjective "hackneyed" began to be used in the 18th century and now is a common synonym for "trite."
Synonyms
trite, hackneyed, stereotyped, threadbare mean lacking the freshness that evokes attention or interest.
trite applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity.
hackneyed stresses being worn out by overuse so as to become dull and meaningless.
stereotyped implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.
threadbare applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.
Examples of hackneyed in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hackneyed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
from past participle of hackney entry 3
1735, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Hackneyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hackneyed. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
hackneyed
adjective
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