humbugeous

comparative more humbugeous · superlative most humbugeous

1. rareCharacteristic of a humbug.

   But of course you found the old gentleman was cracked—or half-cracked, with a touch of the humbugeous.

   1873, Mortimer Collins, “The Rivals”, in Squire Silchester’s Whim, volume I, London: Henry S[amuel] King & Co., […], page 185

   4 more examples

   [A]midst so much that is high-minded and sincere, there is perhaps still more that is selfish and cunning, that is, in fact, not genuine but humbugeous.

   1844, “Robert Montgomery”, in R[ichard] H[enry] Horne, editor, A New Spirit of the Age, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], page 323

   Fussy and ‘pompious’ Tumblety Bug seemed to say with Senator Benton, when he moved the celebrated Jackson ‘Expunging Resolutions:’ ‘Solitary and alone, I set this ball in motion!’ That ‘was so,’ too: but while we pondered upon the object of the humbugeous, insectual laborer, lo! he vanished from our sight, ‘and we saw him no more.’

   1861 May, “Editor’s Table”, in The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, volume LVII, number 5, New York, N.Y.: J. R. Gilmore, […], page 571

   You will see from the enclosed that as Artemus Ward says it is “intended to be sarkastikal;” and I think it will be a “sweet boon” to such of the Post’s readers as think with me of the humbugeous matters whereof it speaks.

   a. 1874, Lewis Gaylord Clark, “[To Parke Godwin]”, in Bulletin of the New York Public Library, volume 42, New York, N.Y.: New York Public Library, published 1938, page 950

   The oratory was, in my opinion, gassy, flowery, nonsensical; or, as the great Mr. Barnum would say, and I shall take the liberty of saying, they were “humbugeous.”

   1878, “My Great Electioneering Trick”, in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, London: John and Robert Maxwell […], →OCLC, page 8