Janeite

English

Alternative forms

• Janite

Etymology

From Jane +‎ -ite, coined by British critic and literary historian George Saintsbury in his introduction to Pride and Prejudice published in 1894 (see quotations at Janite).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒeɪnaɪt/

Noun

Janeite (plural Janeites)

1. (usually derogatory) A fan of the author Jane Austen, especially one without a background in literary criticism.
   • 1924, Rudyard Kipling, The Janeites:

     “Every dam' thing about Jane [Austen] is remarkable to a pukka Janeite!”

   • 2010, Edward Copeland, Juliet McMaster, The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen, page 236:

     Unlike virtually all academic readers of Austen since the 1950s, Janeites in foxholes do not think Austen's novels are about courtship and marriage.

   • 2012, Henry Hitchings, “How to flummox a Janeite”, in Who's Afraid of Jane Austen: How to Talk About Books You Haven't Really Read:

     The 'regulated hatred' angle will work a treat. After all, Janeites don't want to hear about that sort of thing, because it's the opposite of what they adore in their heroine's writing.

Synonyms

• (fan of Jane Austen): Austenian, Austenite

Derived terms

• Janeiteism