wordmongery

Noun

wordmongery (uncountable)

1. Clever writing or speaking, especially that which is superficially impressive but of very little substance.
   • The materials thus hastily collected have been hastily strung together, and sometimes with the vapid smartness and wordmongery of the magazine-contributor.1845, The Spectator - Volume 18, page 423
   • Firstly, you must not expect too much from this science, for you cannot set contrary brains to rights by any logic. Secondly, you must not think too little of it, by regarding the matter as mere scholastic wordmongery and useless hairsplitting.1906, Joseph Dietzgen, Eugene Dietzgen, The Positive Outcome of Philosophy, page 182
2. The art of putting something into words, especially when done cleverly.
   • Though in mere wordmongery proficient, he failed to make out a case for supernaturalism.1870, Pamphlets on Spiritualism, page 38
   • Words have the rigidities of people. They conceal what they would reveal and reveal what they would conceal. They mean much or nothing, and the humorist is alert to the ludicrous ineptitudes of wordmongery.1949, William George Hoffman, Public Speaking for Businessmen, page 354
3. (obsolete) The memorization of written texts.
   • He flung away the wordmongery and rote-learning that was, and is, called education, and brought the child in contact with nature and reality.1839, John Abraham Heraud, Edward Higginson, The Educator
   • The grand error is, that that is called knowledge, which is mere rote-learning and wordmongery.1842, The School and the Schoolmaster