cretin

[ kreet-n or, esp. British, kret-n ]
/ ˈkrit n or, esp. British, ˈkrɛt n /

noun

a person suffering from cretinism.
a stupid, obtuse, or mentally defective person.

Origin of cretin

1770–80; < French; Franco-Provençal creitin, crestin human being, literally, Christian (hence one who is human despite deformities)

OTHER WORDS FROM cretin

cre·ti·noid, adjective cre·tin·ous, adjective sem·i·cre·tin, noun

Example sentences from the Web for cretin

British Dictionary definitions for cretin

cretin
/ (ˈkrɛtɪn) /

noun

old-fashioned a person afflicted with cretinism
offensive a person considered to be extremely stupid

Derived forms of cretin

cretinoid, adjective cretinous, adjective

Word Origin for cretin

C18: from French crétin, from Swiss French crestin, from Latin Chrīstiānus Christian, alluding to the humanity of such people, despite their handicaps

Medical definitions for cretin

cretin
[ krētn ]

n.

A person afflicted with cretinism.

Other words from cretin

cretin•oid′ (-oid′) adj. cretin•ous (-əs) adj.