page_title: Stupidity
section_title: Etymology
hierarchical_section_title: Stupidity / Etymology
context_page_description: Stupidity is a lack of intelligence, understanding, reason, or wit. It may be innate, assumed or reactive.
context_section_description: The root word stupid, which can serve as an adjective or noun, comes from the Latin verb stupere, for being numb or astonished, and is related to stupor. In Roman culture, the stupidus was the professional fall guy in the theatrical mimes.
  According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, the words "stupid" and "stupidity" entered the English language in 1541. Since then, stupidity has taken place along with "fool," "idiot," "dumb," "moron," and related concepts as a pejorative for misdeeds, whether purposeful or accidental, due to absence of mental capacity.
caption: Engraving after Pieter Breughel the Elder, 1556. caption: Al rijst den esele ter scholen om leeren, ist eenen esele hij en zal gheen peert weder keeren ("Even if the Ass travels to school to learn, as a horse he will not return")
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