Pickwickian

English Alternative forms en pickwickian Etymology From en Pickwick ian, from The Pickwick Papers (1836) by Charles Dickens, in which members of the Pickwick Club explain away unparliamentary language as having been uttered "in the Pickwickian sense". Adjective Arbitrary or meaningless en of the usage of a word or phrase. en 1836 Charles Dickens The Pickwick Papers The Chairman felt it his imperative duty to demand of the honourable gentleman, whether he had used the expression which had just escaped him in a common sense. Mr. Blotton had no hesitation in saying that he had not—he had used the word in its Pickwickian sense. en 1977 Christopher Derrick Escape from Scepticism: Liberal Education As If Truth Mattered But let us defend the poor battered old language against those who use words in private Pickwickian senses of their own en 1995 John Hassard Sociology and Organization Theory 80 But we are prisoners in a Pickwickian sense; if we try we can break out of our frameworks at any time. en medicine Having, or relating to, Pickwickian syndrome. en 1975 Morton F. Reiser Organic disorders and psychosomatic medicine 4 866 This pattern of EEG and respiratory changes has been observed during both diurnal and nocturnal sleep in Pickwickian patients. Of or relating to The Pickwick Papers, its storyline, or its characters (chiefly Samuel Pickwick himself). en 1960 George Frederick McCleary On detective fiction and other things 60 Calverley's test of Pickwickian scholarship has been followed by similar tests with which students of the Holmesian chronicles may put their knowledge of their hero's exploits to the proof. Derived terms en Pickwickianism Pickwickianly Pickwickian syndrome Noun en medicine A person who has Pickwickian syndrome. See also en Humpty Dumptyism en eponyms terms derived from Dickensian works