A word to describe Smerdyakov's pathology












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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]."










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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
















0















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]."










share|improve this question

























  • Oleaginous, obsequious, sycophantic are the closest I have found, but sound pretentious and are not quite accurate.

    – enthdegree
    5 mins ago














0












0








0








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]."










share|improve this question
















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






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share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








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



















  • 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










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