A word to describe Smerdyakov's pathology
Smerdyakov is a character from Brothers Karamazov who is odious in a particular and recognizable way. Is there a word that succinctly captures his character?
He acts over-familiar with people. He assumes depth and hidden meaning in conversations where there is none. He includes hidden meanings in his responses when there is no pretense for them.
For example, imagine a too-informed fan meeting a celebrity by chance. In conversation the fan speaks to the celebrity as a peer and works in obscure, apocryphal references expecting the celebrity to pick up on them and respond in the same candor.
"The fan is [behaving like Smerdyakov]."
single-word-requests adjectives books
add a comment |
Smerdyakov is a character from Brothers Karamazov who is odious in a particular and recognizable way. Is there a word that succinctly captures his character?
He acts over-familiar with people. He assumes depth and hidden meaning in conversations where there is none. He includes hidden meanings in his responses when there is no pretense for them.
For example, imagine a too-informed fan meeting a celebrity by chance. In conversation the fan speaks to the celebrity as a peer and works in obscure, apocryphal references expecting the celebrity to pick up on them and respond in the same candor.
"The fan is [behaving like Smerdyakov]."
single-word-requests adjectives books
Oleaginous, obsequious, sycophantic are the closest I have found, but sound pretentious and are not quite accurate.
– enthdegree
5 mins ago
add a comment |
Smerdyakov is a character from Brothers Karamazov who is odious in a particular and recognizable way. Is there a word that succinctly captures his character?
He acts over-familiar with people. He assumes depth and hidden meaning in conversations where there is none. He includes hidden meanings in his responses when there is no pretense for them.
For example, imagine a too-informed fan meeting a celebrity by chance. In conversation the fan speaks to the celebrity as a peer and works in obscure, apocryphal references expecting the celebrity to pick up on them and respond in the same candor.
"The fan is [behaving like Smerdyakov]."
single-word-requests adjectives books
Smerdyakov is a character from Brothers Karamazov who is odious in a particular and recognizable way. Is there a word that succinctly captures his character?
He acts over-familiar with people. He assumes depth and hidden meaning in conversations where there is none. He includes hidden meanings in his responses when there is no pretense for them.
For example, imagine a too-informed fan meeting a celebrity by chance. In conversation the fan speaks to the celebrity as a peer and works in obscure, apocryphal references expecting the celebrity to pick up on them and respond in the same candor.
"The fan is [behaving like Smerdyakov]."
single-word-requests adjectives books
single-word-requests adjectives books
edited 2 mins ago
enthdegree
asked 10 mins ago
enthdegreeenthdegree
10615
10615
Oleaginous, obsequious, sycophantic are the closest I have found, but sound pretentious and are not quite accurate.
– enthdegree
5 mins ago
add a comment |
Oleaginous, obsequious, sycophantic are the closest I have found, but sound pretentious and are not quite accurate.
– enthdegree
5 mins ago
Oleaginous, obsequious, sycophantic are the closest I have found, but sound pretentious and are not quite accurate.
– enthdegree
5 mins ago
Oleaginous, obsequious, sycophantic are the closest I have found, but sound pretentious and are not quite accurate.
– enthdegree
5 mins ago
add a comment |
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Oleaginous, obsequious, sycophantic are the closest I have found, but sound pretentious and are not quite accurate.
– enthdegree
5 mins ago