simon-pure

simon-pure — (adj.) 1815, from the true Simon Pure the genuine person or thing (1795), from Simon Pure, name of a Quaker who is impersonated by another character (Colonel Feignwell) in part of the comedy A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717) by Susannah Centlivre,… …   Etymology dictionary

Simon-pure — Si mon pure , a. Genuine; true; real; authentic; a term alluding to the comedy character Simon Pure, who is impersonated by another and is obliged to prove himself to be the real Simon Pure. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

simon-pure — [sī΄mən pyoor′] adj. [after Simon Pure, a Quaker in Susanna Centlivre s play A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1718), who must prove his identity against an impostor s claims] genuine; real; authentic …   English World dictionary

Simon Pure — /sīˈmən pūrˈ/ noun The real person (or thing) ORIGIN: From a character in Susannah Centlivre s comedy, A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717) • • • sīˈmon pure adjective Real, genuine …   Useful english dictionary

Simon-Pure —    Susannah Centlivre, a prominent writer of farcical comedies, wrote a play in 1718 that has provided the English language with a new word meaning utterly pure or real: This play, titled A Bold Stroke for a Wife, had as its hero a man named… …   Dictionary of eponyms

simon-pure — /suy meuhn pyoor /, adj. real; genuine: a simon pure accent. [1710 20; short for the real Simon Pure, alluding to the victim of impersonation in Susanna Centlivre s play A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1718)] * * * …   Universalium

simon-pure — si′mon pure′ [[t]ˈsaɪ mən[/t]] adj. 1) real; genuine 2) untainted; pure • Etymology: 1795–1805; short for the real Simon Pure, alluding to the victim of impersonation in S. Centlivre s play A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1718) …   From formal English to slang

simon-pure — adjective Etymology: from the real Simon Pure, alluding to a character impersonated by another in the play A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1718) by Susannah Centlivre Date: 1840 of untainted purity or integrity; also pretentiously or hypocritically… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

simon-pure — adjective completely genuine or honest. Origin C18: from (the real) Simon Pure, a character in Centlivre s A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717), who for part of the play is impersonated by another character …   English new terms dictionary

Simon Pure — /saɪmən ˈpjʊə/ (say suymuhn pyoohuh) noun a genuine, honest person. {from the phrase the real Simon Pure, referring to a character who is impersonated by another in English dramatist Susanna Centlivre s 1717 play A Bold Stroke for a Wife} …   Australian English dictionary

simon-pure — adj. real, genuine. Etymology: (the real) Simon Pure, a character in Centlivre s Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717) …   Useful english dictionary