dickens

See also: Dickens

English

Etymology

Origin: 1590–1600; apparently a fanciful use of the proper name Dicken, form of Dick.

Noun

dickens (uncountable)

  1. (euphemistic) The devil.
    She can go to the dickens for what she said.
    You scared the dickens out of me.
  2. In the phrase the dickens (Used as an intensifier).
    Why the dickens did he do that?
    We had the dickens of a row.

References

  • Random House Dictionary

Synonyms

See also

Anagrams

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