pecksniffery

noun

peck·​sniff·​ery
ˈpekˌsnifərē
variants or pecksniffianism
pekˈsnifēəˌnizəm
plural pecksnifferies or pecksniffianisms
often capitalized
: the quality or state of being pecksniffian
the national pecksnifferyH. L. Mencken

Word History

Etymology

pecksniffery from Seth Pecksniff, character in Martin Chuzzlewit (1843–44) by Charles Dickens †1870 English novelist + English -ery; pecksniffianism from pecksniffian + -ism

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near pecksniffery

Cite this Entry

“Pecksniffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pecksniffery. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!