DICKENS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Dickens mean? 

• DICKENS (noun)
  The noun DICKENS has 2 senses:

1. a word used in exclamations of confusion

2. English writer whose novels depicted and criticized social injustice (1812-1870)

  Familiarity information: DICKENS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DICKENS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A word used in exclamations of confusion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

deuce; devil; dickens

Context example:

the dickens you say

Hypernyms ("dickens" is a kind of...):

exclaiming; exclamation (an abrupt excited utterance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

English writer whose novels depicted and criticized social injustice (1812-1870)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Charles Dickens; Charles John Huffam Dickens; Dickens

Instance hypernyms:

author; writer (writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay))

Derivation:

Dickensian (of or like the novels of Charles Dickens (especially with regard to poor social and economic conditions))

 Context examples 

"Oh, the dickens! Now I've done it," and he looked so guilty that Jo was down on him like a flash.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

According to expedition co-chief scientist Gerald Dickens of Rice University in the U.S., significant new fossil discoveries were made.

(Scientists return from expedition to lost continent of Zealandia, National Science Foundation)

"Where the dickens is she!" he continued.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"I'm sorry for that, and ought to thank him for not shaking me, I suppose. What the dickens does the fellow expect?" and the old gentleman looked a trifle ashamed of his own testiness.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

One of these was the 'P.C.', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one, and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Hey! Why, what the dickens has come to the fellow? said the old gentleman, as Laurie came running downstairs and brought up with a start of surprise at the astounding sight of Jo arm in arm with his redoubtable grandfather.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Haughty English, lively French, sober Germans, handsome Spaniards, ugly Russians, meek Jews, free-and-easy Americans, all drive, sit, or saunter here, chatting over the news, and criticizing the latest celebrity who has arrived—Ristori or Dickens, Victor Emmanuel or the Queen of the Sandwich Islands.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)