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''QUEEN'': Ay, that’s a [[confi]] indeed, for he doth nothing <br>
{{smallcaps|Portia}}: Ay, that’s a [[confi]] indeed, for he doth nothing but<br>
But talk along of his [[indemnities]]; <br>
talk of his [[indemnities]]; and he makes it a great<br>
And he makes great [[appropriation]] to his own large part,<br>
[[appropriation]] to his own large part, that he can<br>
That he can [[Injunction|injunct]] himself. <br>
[[Injunction|injunct]] himself. I am much afear’d, my lady, his<br>
''HERCULIO'': [[Triago]] may be big, my Liege, but I’ll warrant <br>
mother played false with a [[rentsmith]].  
Not ''that'' big. I am much afear’d, my lady, <br>
 
His mother played false with a [[rentsmith]].  
:— Shakespeare, ''The Merchant of Tennis'', I,ii}}</div>{{d|Rentsmith|/rɛntsmɪθ/|n., derog|}} (also '''rentsmithing''', '''rentsmithery''')  
:— {{buchstein}}, {{dsh}}, I,ii}}
{{d|Rentsmith|/rɛntsmɪθ/|n., derog|}} (also '''rentsmithing''', '''rentsmithery''')  


1. A [[rent-seeking]] [[legal eagle]]. One who justifies one’s place in the room by wordsmithing things which are fine as they are, especially if doing do makes things worse than they were in the first place (hence, an “[[iatrogenicist]]”).
1. A [[rent-seeking]] [[legal eagle]]. One who justifies one’s place in the room by wordsmithing things which are fine as they are, especially if doing do makes things worse than they were in the first place (hence, an “[[iatrogenicist]]”).


2. (''v., derog.'') To ''act'' as a rentsmith. To [[Celery peddler|peddle celery]].  
2. (''v., derog.'') To ''act'' as a rentsmith. To [[Celery peddler|peddle celery]].  
3. '''Rentsmithee''' ''/rɛntsmɪθiː/'' (''n.''): One obliged to render rent to a rentsmith. A [[client]].


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Latest revision as of 12:15, 8 April 2022

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QUEEN: Ay, that’s a confi indeed, for he doth nothing
But talk along of his indemnities;
And he makes great appropriation to his own large part,
That he can injunct himself.
HERCULIO: Triago may be big, my Liege, but I’ll warrant
Not that big. I am much afear’d, my lady,
His mother played false with a rentsmith.

Büchstein, Die Schweizer Heulsuse, I,ii

Rentsmith
/rɛntsmɪθ/ (n., derog.)
(also rentsmithing, rentsmithery)

1. A rent-seeking legal eagle. One who justifies one’s place in the room by wordsmithing things which are fine as they are, especially if doing do makes things worse than they were in the first place (hence, an “iatrogenicist”).

2. (v., derog.) To act as a rentsmith. To peddle celery.

3. Rentsmithee /rɛntsmɪθiː/ (n.): One obliged to render rent to a rentsmith. A client.

See also