dickens

[ dik-inz ]
/ ˈdɪk ɪnz /

noun

devil; deuce (usually preceded by the and often used in exclamations and as a mild imprecation): The dickens you say! What the dickens does he want?

Origin of dickens

1590–1600; apparently a fanciful use of Dicken, form of Dick, proper name

Definition for dickens (2 of 2)

Dickens
[ dik-inz ]
/ ˈdɪk ɪnz /

noun

CharlesJohn Huf·fam, [huhf-uh m] /ˈhʌf əm/, Boz,1812–70, English novelist.

OTHER WORDS FROM Dickens

Dick·en·si·an [dih-ken-zee-uh n] /dɪˈkɛn zi ən/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for dickens

British Dictionary definitions for dickens (1 of 2)

dickens
/ (ˈdɪkɪnz) /

noun

informal a euphemistic word for devil what the dickens?

Word Origin for dickens

C16: from the name Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for dickens (2 of 2)

Dickens
/ (ˈdɪkɪnz) /

noun

Charles (John Huffam), pen name Boz. 1812–70, English novelist, famous for the humour and sympathy of his characterization and his criticism of social injustice. His major works include The Pickwick Papers (1837), Oliver Twist (1839), Nicholas Nickleby (1839), Old Curiosity Shop (1840–41), Martin Chuzzlewit (1844), David Copperfield (1850), Bleak House (1853), Little Dorrit (1857), and Great Expectations (1861)