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"erudito a la violeta"

English translation: sham scholar; farcical scholar

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:"erudito a la violeta"
English translation:sham scholar; farcical scholar
Entered by: Ltemes

18:08 Jul 9, 2004
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History
Spanish term or phrase: "erudito a la violeta"
The context is in Enlightenment Spain. Would this be a fake scholar, or an overrated scholar...?
anna purna
France
Local time: 13:31
sham scholar; farcical
Explanation:
According to DRAE (Diccionario de la Real Academia) it refers to:

erudito a la violeta.
1. m. Hombre que solo tiene una tintura superficial de ciencias y artes.

It approximates "fake", rather than "overrated".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 10 mins (2004-07-09 19:18:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I\'ve been mulling this over and another word that might work is: CHARLATAN. Merriam-Webster\'s 2nd definition for \"Charlatan\" is:

<<2: one making usually showy pretenses to knowledge or ability>>

Having said that, in Spanish the meaning of the word \"charlatán\", is closer to someone who speaks a lot and withouth substance, someone who is not discreet and doesn\'t have good judgment. But it could work well in English.

good luck!
Selected response from:

Ltemes
United States
Local time: 04:31
Grading comment
"sham scholar" is good. I liked the alliteration (it's in a speech...)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3sham scholar; farcical
Ltemes
5pseudointellectual
Sandra Cifuentes Dowling
4 +1dilettante
Maisar
4 +1charlatan
JuanManuel


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
pseudointellectual


Explanation:
Collins Dictionary

erudito a la violeta.
1. m. Hombre que solo tiene una tintura superficial de ciencias y
artes.
Real Academia Española ©


    Reference: http://zaxl16.blogspot.com
Sandra Cifuentes Dowling
Chile
Local time: 07:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  BAmary (X): yes
7 mins
  -> Thanks, BAmary
disagree  ------ (X): Está bien, pero me parece una palabra muy moderna en comparación con el erudito de la violeta. Pero tu propuesta no es mala en absoluto.:)
27 mins
  -> Probablemente tengas razón, Janfri. Aunque no estaría tan segura que pueda descartarse de plano. ¡Saludos!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
sham scholar; farcical


Explanation:
According to DRAE (Diccionario de la Real Academia) it refers to:

erudito a la violeta.
1. m. Hombre que solo tiene una tintura superficial de ciencias y artes.

It approximates "fake", rather than "overrated".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 10 mins (2004-07-09 19:18:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I\'ve been mulling this over and another word that might work is: CHARLATAN. Merriam-Webster\'s 2nd definition for \"Charlatan\" is:

<<2: one making usually showy pretenses to knowledge or ability>>

Having said that, in Spanish the meaning of the word \"charlatán\", is closer to someone who speaks a lot and withouth substance, someone who is not discreet and doesn\'t have good judgment. But it could work well in English.

good luck!

Ltemes
United States
Local time: 04:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
"sham scholar" is good. I liked the alliteration (it's in a speech...)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  ------ (X): Sham scholar suena casi tan rancio como el erudito de la violeta.
27 mins
  -> gracias. el erudito a la violeta se me ocurre es como la versión dieciochesca del conocido escudero "ilustre", personaje del Lazarillo de Tormes. El erudito a la violeta sigue esa vena y que autores como Moratín critican en sus obras.
agree  JuanManuel: Charlatán en Español México
2 hrs
agree  Nanny Wintjens
6 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
erudito a la violeta
dilettante


Explanation:
Chambers Dictionary:
a person who loves the fine arts but in a superficial way and without serious purpose; a dabbler in art, science or literature.

Can't find an earliest recorded usage to see if it's appropriate for the period, but it's no later than 1808.


    Reference: http://www.websters-dictionary-online.org/definition/english...
Maisar
Local time: 12:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
19 hrs
  -> thanks Jane
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
erudito a la violeta
charlatan


Explanation:
In México is referred as charlatán

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 37 mins (2004-07-09 20:45:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Was this a mere coincidence or was it a true prophecy? Who was Michel de Nostrodomus? Was he an imposter, a CHARLATAN, or was he an authentic seer or prophet who could foresee the future while most others could not?

JuanManuel
Mexico
Local time: 04:31
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lisa Russell
17 hrs
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