Tartuffish is a word derived from the character Tartuffe created by French playwright Molière. It describes someone who is hypocritical or deceitful, often in a religious context. The spelling of Tartuffish is influenced by the original French spelling of Tartuffe, with the added "ish" suffix indicating a similarity or tendency towards the original character's behavior. In IPA transcription, Tartuffish is pronounced /tɑrtəˈfɪʃ/, with the stress on the second syllable and the final "sh" sound.
Tartuffish is an adjective that originated from the character Tartuffe, a hypocritical religious figure in Molière's play "Tartuffe." The term describes someone or something that shares the characteristics of Tartuffe: a person who presents a false appearance of piety or righteousness, particularly in matters of religion, while behaving in a deceptive or deceitful manner.
Being "tartuffish" implies a pretension or affectation of virtue or holiness, which masks ulterior motives or hidden vices. It refers to individuals who use their apparent religious devotion to manipulate or exploit others, often for personal gain or power. This term can also be extended to describe behaviors, actions, or attitudes that display hypocrisy, insincerity, or a lack of ethics.
The use of "tartuffish" is not restricted to religious matters, as the behavior it characterizes can be observed in various contexts beyond religion. It denotes a person who feigns moral superiority or holds themselves to a higher standard than others, while secretly engaging in disreputable or immoral behavior.
Overall, "tartuffish" encapsulates the notion of a person or thing that outwardly presents an image of righteousness or virtue, but demonstrates a stark contrast through their deceptive actions or intentions. It serves as a critique, highlighting the discrepancy between one's professed beliefs or values and their actual behavior or character.
The word "Tartuffish" is derived from the character Tartuffe in the famous French play "Tartuffe" written by Molière in 1664. Tartuffe is a hypocritical and deceitful character who pretends to be pious and virtuous while leading a morally corrupt life in secret. The word "Tartuffish" is an adjective that describes someone or something as resembling or characteristic of Tartuffe or his hypocritical behavior, indicating a false appearance of righteousness or religious devotion.