Micawberly

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English

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Etymology

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From Micawber +‎ -ly (suffix forming adjectives from nouns, having the sense of ‘behaving like, or having a nature typical of [what is denoted by the noun]’) (see origin of name there), from the character Wilkins Micawber – noted for his naive optimism, always confident that “something will turn up”[1] – in David Copperfield (1849–1850) by the English author Charles Dickens (1812–1870).

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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Micawberly (comparative more Micawberly, superlative most Micawberly)

  1. in an upbeat and optimistic way, in the face of seemingly hopeless circumstances
    • 1872, Adeline Dutton Train Whitney, Sights and Insights: Patience Strong's Story of Over the Way, volume 1, J.R. Osgood & Company, published 1876, page 151:
      [] not growing a single spiritual inch, for putting forth his powers as a man should; just amiably Micawbering along, and most Micawberly devoted to somebody he would like well enough to marry when the times comes and things "turn up;" []
    • 1875 January 31, “Grand Duke Alexis”, in Galveston Daily News[1], archived from the original on 5 March 2016, page 1, column 2 (bottom):
      The marriage of Grand Duke Alexis in his proper station in life is indefinitely postponed, and Count Shouvalod and his imperial master must wait, Micawberly, for something to turn up.
    • 1995, William A. Senior, Stephen R. Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Variations on the Fantasy Tradition, Kent State University Press, page 176:
      Covenant doggedly searches for a way out of his predicament and vows to keep moving in the hopes that, macabrely (as opposed to Micawberly) put, something will turn up.
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Translations

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References

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  1. ^ See, for example, Charles Dickens (May 1849 – November 1850) “I Assist at an Explosion”, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, [], published 1850, →OCLC, page 540:‘I could not receive it as a gift,’ said Mr. Micawber, full of fire and animation, ‘but if a sufficient sum could be advanced, [] to allow time for something to turn up——’

Further reading

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