dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants

English

Etymology

Calque of Latin nani, gigantum humeris insidentes.

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Noun

dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants (plural dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants or dwarves standing on the shoulders of giants)

(figurative, idiomatic) One who discovers by building on previous discoveries.
Synonym: pygmy placed on the shoulders of giants

Derived terms

stand on the shoulders of giants

Translations

person who discovers by building on previous discoveries

French: des nains sur des épaules de géants
German: Zwerg auf den Schultern von Riesen, Zwerg auf den Schultern von Giganten
Japanese: 巨人の肩の上に立つ小人
Latin: nani, gigantum humeris insidentes (plural)

Further reading

Standing on the shoulders of giants on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

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