English Explanatory Dictionary

angels dancing on the head of a pin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The subject of arcane intellectual speculation—used as an example of a subject of enquiry in which the pursuit is of no value.

Word forms

angels dancing on the head of a pin

Etymology

An allusion to the theological question, How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?—a question cited to debunk mediaeval angelology in particular, and scholasticism in general. The point is that explorative discussions that the discussants consider important can be academic in both senses of that word—not only arcane, but also irrelevant.

Related words

angels-dancing-on-the-head-of-a-pin count angels on pinheads
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