150 Years Later, a Word May Get Its Due

Merriam-Webster Online wants your opinion on what the word of the year should be. To my delight, pecksniffian made the shortlist. The noun pecksniff (thank you, Charles Dickens!), with its audible hint of holier-than-thou disdain, is even better than bluenose or pharisee or plaster saint.

I expect to see pecksniff in ever-wider circulation; after all, there's no dearth of worthy candidates for the term.

So go vote.