English Explanatory Dictionary

dickens

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The devil.
  2. A disturbance or row.
  3. Used as an intensifier in the phrase the dickens; see that entry.
name
  1. A surname originating as a patronymic, notably borne by Charles Dickens, English novelist.
  2. A small city, the county seat of Dickens County, Texas, United States.

Pronunciation

/ˈdɪkɪnz/ /ˈdɪkənz/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-dickens.wav En-us-Dickens.oga

Word forms

dickens

Etymology

Origin: 1590–1600; apparently a fanciful use of the proper name Dicken, diminutive form of Dick.

Synonyms

on earth the hell the devil the heck the fuck

Related words

Dickensian

Derived words

play the dickens with the dickens you say Dickens County Dickens Heath Dickensian

Translations

Chinese Mandarin: 狄更斯 Japanese: ディケンズ Marathi: डिकेन्स Polish: Dickens Russian: Ди́ккенс
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