mummery

noun /ˈmʌməɹi/

1. Mumming; disguising oneself to perform as a mummer, or to take part in some other festivities or performance.

   archaic, countable, uncountable

   I say the sewer thought I was dressed to bear a part in the tregetour’s mummery, and so I got admission

2. A ridiculous or ostentatious ceremony, formerly especially of a religious nature; extravagant or hypocritical performance.

   countable, figuratively, uncountable

   Fast from the midnight watch to pray till morn.— More would he not disclose, or knew not more. —What precious mummery!

   The twentieth of September, they are bound

Where it comes from

From Middle French momerie, mommerie, from Old French mommer, from momon. By surface analysis, mummer + -y.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry mummery (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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