Sinecure

//ˈsaɪ.nəˌkjʊɹ// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Requiring no work for an ample reward. not-comparable

    "By the act of union (1800), the offices of Irish secretary, a sinecure post, and lord lieutenant's secretary were combined."

  2. 2
    Having the appearance of functionality without being of any actual use or purpose. not-comparable

    "The old man hastily pulled down his spectacles from their sinecure office on his forehead, and looked at her with an expression of most angry amazement."

Noun
  1. 1
    A position that requires little to no work, or easy work, but still gives an ample payment; a cushy job.

    "Miss Briggs was not formally dismissed, but her place as companion was a sinecure and a derision […]"

  2. 2
    an office that involves minimal duties wordnet
  3. 3
    An ecclesiastical benefice without the care of souls. historical
  4. 4
    a benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attached wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To put or place in a sinecure. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Ecclesiastical Latin sine cūrā (literally “without care”), ellipsis of beneficium sine cūrā (“benefice without cure [of souls, i.e. the office of a curate]”), formed from Medieval Latin sine (“without”) + cūrā (“care, charge, cure”).

Etymology 2

From Ecclesiastical Latin sine cūrā (literally “without care”), ellipsis of beneficium sine cūrā (“benefice without cure [of souls, i.e. the office of a curate]”), formed from Medieval Latin sine (“without”) + cūrā (“care, charge, cure”).

Etymology 3

From Ecclesiastical Latin sine cūrā (literally “without care”), ellipsis of beneficium sine cūrā (“benefice without cure [of souls, i.e. the office of a curate]”), formed from Medieval Latin sine (“without”) + cūrā (“care, charge, cure”).

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