Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Barbara McAlister
Word of the Day: Pecksniffian
A recent political editorial referred to a politician’s pecksniffian personality. It’s a great descriptive word, thanks to Charles Dickens. It’s named for the character Seth Pecksniff in his novel “Martin Chuzzlewit.” in the book, Seth Pecksniff is a slimy, insincere hypocrite, thus “pecksniffian” refers to a fawning, falsely moralistic, sanctimonious person. “Pecksniffian” may be capitalized but that’s unnecessary since it has long entered the English language in common usage, although maybe not so much anymore.
At one time, Dickens was the leading writer in the world, a Victorian-era James Patterson as far as turning out books goes, and considered by many to be the greatest novelist of the time. While that may be arguable, he was an undisputed genius at creating memorable names like Uriah Heep in “David Copperfield,” Pumblechook in “Great Expectations,” Mr. Sowerberry in “Oliver Twist” or Fezziwig in “A Christmas Carol.” Some other Dickens uniquely picturesque names include Wackford Squeers, Polly Toodle, Mr. Sloppy, Wopsle, Sophy Wackles, Smike, John Podsnap and Paul Sweedlepipe.
Many characters remain household names a century and a half later, and some, like pecksniffian, have become part of the English language. A miserly person is a scrooge, after Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol,” and a large umbrella is called a gamp, especially in England, after Sarah Gamp, the affable lady in Martin Chuzzlewit, who always carried a large cotton umbrella.
Dickens is also credited with coining the words “rampage,” “abuzz,” flummoxed” and “devil-may-care” among others in his writings. “Dickensian” itself has become a word used to refer to anything that brings his graphic writing to mind, generally dark scenes of squalid poverty, homeless hardship and unsafe working conditions.
