We’ve blogged recently about a few noteworthy people who have achieved the status of human verb — an unlikely mix of sports stars and federal judges.  A slightly more common phenomenon (but still not one most of us will enjoy) is the adjective based on a person’s name — let’s call it adjectivization.  Most of those who enjoy this tribute are writers whose style is distinctive enough to warrant this treatment.

A prime example of this phenomenon is Charles Dickens, whose 200th birthday is being celebrated today by bookworms worldwide.  A quick Google search of the word Dickensian gets around 2 million hits.  Here’s the definition from Cambridge dictionaries:

1. relating or similar to something described in the books of the 19th century British writer, Charles Dickens, especially living or working conditions that are below an acceptable standard

example: The bathrooms in this hotel are positively Dickensian — no hot water and grime everywhere.

2. written by or in the style of Charles Dickens

George Orwell is the other big example who leaps to mind, and he blows our birthday boy out of the water: Orwellian gets 7 million Google hits. And let’s not leave out Franz Kakfa, whose personal adjective has no doubt featured in many a lawyers’ hyberbolic arguments.

Your Honor, the charges against my client are nothing less than Kafkaesque!

So, happy birthday Charles! I can’t think of a nicer gift than your very own bespoke adjective.

image from latimes.com

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