>today's word: uriah heep

glowing with quiet pride. ;-)

A hypocritical person

I think of Uriah Heep as not only hypocritical, but fawning and obsequious as well--a real toady as presented by Dickens. Isn't hypocritical a broader term? There are hypocrites who don't grovel.

I think it is worth remembering that Uriah Heep's hypocrisy was just camouflage for the viciousness he could reveal when he had acquired power over those to whom he had originally grovelled.

unctuous too-- when i first heard the word unctuous, it in the context of describing Uriah Heeps character.