pecksniffian

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word pecksniffian. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word pecksniffian, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say pecksniffian in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word pecksniffian you have here. The definition of the word pecksniffian will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofpecksniffian, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Pecksniffian

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Derived from the character Seth Pecksniff in the Charles Dickens novel Martin Chuzzlewit (1843).

Adjective

pecksniffian (comparative more pecksniffian, superlative most pecksniffian)

  1. Of or pertaining to Pecksniffery; unctuously hypocritical; sanctimonious.
    • 2000 February 24, “Tony Blair takes his time”, in The Guardian:
      He has good cards to play on making Brussels better and slimming the continent's heavyweight welfare states. Both can, not implausibly, be given a New Labourish colouring, though Mr Blair's lectures can sound insufferably Pecksniffian.

Translations