Jellyby

English Alternative forms en Mrs. Jellyby Etymology After the character of Mrs Jellyby in Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House (1852), who busies herself with charity work for Africa while her own household goes to ruin. Noun s + A philanthropist who cares only for people in distant regions, or people away from their own household. en 1992 Bernard Shaw; Rebecca Swift Letters from Margaret: correspondence between Bernard Shaw and Margaret Wheeler 1944-1950 My mother, devoted to music, was a Jellyby. Strictly brought up, straight backed, never careless of her person, but still as to her children, a Jellyby. en 2005 American Society of Magazine Editors The Best American Magazine Writing 2005 360 Chuck Collins, a great-grandson of Oscar Mayer, is a rare non-fictional example of someone who gave away all his assets during his lifetime—a half-million-dollar inheritance, which he donated to charity nearly twenty years ago. He now has a daughter, who does not live like a Jellyby. See also en Afghanistanism en eponyms terms derived from Dickensian works en Fictional characters Human behaviour People Personality