Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A surname of Russian origin: "Nabokov" is a family name, most famously associated with the 20th-century writer Vladimir Nabokov.
   • Referring to Vladimir Nabokov: The word is primarily used to refer to the Russian-American novelist, poet, translator, and entomologist, Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • I am reading a biography of Nabokov. (I am reading a book about the life of the writer Vladimir Nabokov.)
  • The literary style of Nabokov is known for its linguistic playfulness and complex plots. (The writing method characteristic of Vladimir Nabokov's work is famous for its clever use of language and intricate stories.)
  • This essay analyzes themes in Nabokov's early novels. (This critical paper examines the central ideas found in the first books written by Vladimir Nabokov.)

Advanced Usage

• Used attributively to describe characteristics of his work: The name can function like an adjective to describe a style or quality reminiscent of his writing.
  • The novel has a distinctly Nabokovian narrative structure. (The book's way of telling the story is very characteristic of Vladimir Nabokov's methods.)
  • He appreciated the author's Nabokov-like attention to detail. (He valued the writer's focus on small points, which was similar to that of Nabokov.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nabokovian (adj): Of, relating to, or characteristic of Vladimir Nabokov or his writings, especially their intricate style, multilingual puns, and thematic complexity.
  • The critic discussed the Nabokovian elements in contemporary fiction. (The reviewer talked about the features in modern novels that are like those found in Nabokov's work.)

Synonyms

• Vladimir Nabokov: The full name of the individual to whom the surname primarily refers.
• The author of Lolita: A common descriptive reference to his most famous novel.

Related Phrases

• "A Nabokov": Informally used to mean a book written by Vladimir Nabokov.
  • She picked up a Nabokov to read on the train. (She chose a novel by Vladimir Nabokov to read during her train journey.)

Noun

1. United States writer (born in Russia) (1899-1977)