maven
UK /ˈmeɪvn̩/ · US /ˈmeɪv(ə)n/ noun
Forms mavens mavin mayven mayvin
- noun (chiefly US) An expert in a given field; also, a person who is interested in and knowledgeable about a particular activity or thing; an aficionado.
Synonyms
cognoscente connoisseur adept ace artist buff crackerjack crack hand dab dab hand dabster don hand expert Jedi Master master old hand old soldier old stager past master proficient champion sensation mavin virtuoso genius hotshot star superstar whiz whizz
Antonyms
abecedarian alphabetarian apprentice amateur beginner bun colt first-timer fledgling FNG fresh meat freshman
Etymology
From Yiddish מבֿין (meyvn, “connoisseur, expert, know-it-all”), from Hebrew מֵבִין (mevín, “one who understands, connoisseur, expert”), from הֵבִין (hevín, “to understand”). The word is said to have been popularized by its use in an advertising campaign for Vita Herring launched in the United States in 1964, which had a character called the “beloved [herring] maven” promoting the product.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “maven”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details