Dictionary

anorakish en · ADJ

Etymology

Etymology tree English anorak Proto-Indo-European *-iskos Proto-Germanic *-iskaz Proto-West Germanic *-isk Old English -isċ Middle English -isch English -ish English anorakish From anorak + -ish.

Meanings

1. (UK, informal) Obsessively absorbed in a subject, especially an unusual or obscure subject.
   • The right hon. Lady gave me the facial impression that she thought my point was narrow, anorakish or even—perish the thought—tendentious. 2006, John Bercow, Member of Parliament (UK), floor debate in the House of Commons, Hansard (June 5)
   • Now I make this point not just to add a sort of anorakish-footnote to the debate, but so that the episcopate that we are discussing comes a little more clearly into focus for us, in connection to many of the issues that have already been touched upon. 2006, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, (July 8)
   • College readers of Tolkien's work had a tenacity and anorakish single-mindedness matched only by the Trekkies who would soon follow. 2003, Gary Valentine Lachman, Turn Off Your Mind: The Mystic Sixties and the Dark Side of the Age of Aquarius:
   • 2006, The Times (London, September 2), "Only the togas have changed" The son of a Midlands printer, Harris as a teenager developed an interest in politics as anorakish as other boys’ obsessions with football or pop ...
   • Joining a 'computer group' may sound incredibly anorakish but you'll probably find that most of the other members are bearably human! 1999, Phil Race, Steven Higgins, Nick Packard, 500 ICT Tips for Primary Teachers:

Forms