Literary notes about Philander (AI summary)
The term "philander" in literature displays a fascinating duality. At times it functions simply as a personal name—often serving as a marker for a memorable character such as William Philander or Mr. Philander [1, 2, 3]—while in other contexts it bears its traditional meaning of engaging in casual or unfaithful love affairs. In narratives where it operates in the verbal sense, the word is deployed to evoke irony or humor, as when a character remarks on the folly of attempting to "philander" despite self-awareness of one’s own limitations [4, 5]. This flexible usage enriches the text, layering character identity with commentary on social or romantic behavior.
- They saw William Philander sitting in a chair, the box of candy on his lap.
— from The Rover Boys in New York; Or, Saving Their Father's Honor by Edward Stratemeyer - "Bless me!" said Mr. Philander, a shade of annoyance in his tone.
— from Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs - The President's stepma is a strong She Aunty and has always ruled Philander with an iron hand.
— from Samantha on the Woman Question by Marietta Holley - It's fun to watch other people philander, but I should feel like a fool doing it myself," said Jo, looking alarmed at the thought.
— from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - You must marry some one else; and then I'll come and philander with you.
— from The Philanderer by Bernard Shaw
