dickensian
dickensian Lexical Profile
• adjective
Reminiscent of the squalid poverty, harsh social conditions, or grim institutional neglect depicted in the novels of Charles Dickens.
"The investigative report exposed Dickensian working conditions inside the unregulated textile factories."
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the English novelist Charles Dickens, his literary style, or his comically eccentric characters and festive Victorian settings.
"The snowy cobblestone streets and warm lantern light gave the village a charmingly Dickensian atmosphere on Christmas Eve."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century from the surname of the English Victorian novelist Charles Dickens (1812–1870) plus the suffix '-ian', in reference to his vivid literary depictions of 19th-century London.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.