1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxi. The most fervent Liberals, when out of power, become humdrum Conservatives, or downright tyrants or despots in office.
1863. Alex. Smith, Dreamthorpe, p. 23. Giddy people may think the life I lead here staid and humdrum, but they are mistaken.
1893. Standard, 8 Aug., p. 4, col. 6. The thing, in his view, is to rattle off something pretentious, and avoid the humdrum and tiresome methods which statesmanship of the pre-Home-Rule period used to respect.
Humdurgeon, subs. (old).—1. An imaginary illness.—Grose.
2. (common).—Needless noise; ado about nothing.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxiii. I would never be making a humdudgeon about a scart on the pow.
Humdurgeoned, adj. (old).—Annoyed.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford. Don’t be humdurgeoned but knock down a gemman.
Humguffin (common).—A hobgoblin. Also a derisive address.
Humgumptious, adj. (obsolete).—See quot.