Definition of "Micawber"
Micawber
noun
plural Micawbers
A person who is poor but eternally optimistic, believing that "something will turn up", like the fictional character Wilkins Micawber in the 1850 Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield.
Quotations
... a state of feeling which I may perhaps best describe as the Micawber condition. If only gold would turn up! Gold might turn up any day! But as gold did not turn up, — then would not Providence be so good as to allow something else to turn up!
1873, Anthony Trollope, chapter XVI, in Australia and New Zealand, volume 2, B. Tauchnitz
His reason was no longer concern that the news might destroy her accord with what she was concentrating on, since that was no longer valid now, if it had ever been, and it was no longer the possibility that he might find something else before she would need to know, for that was not valid either now, since he had tried that and failed, nor was it the Micawber-like faith of the inert in tomorrow; it was partly perhaps the knowledge that late enough would be soon enough, but mostly (he did not try to fool himself) it was a profound faith in her.
1939, William Faulkner, The Wild Palms [If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem], Random House
Only a year ago it would have needed a "super-Micawber" to be optimistic that the railways would once again pay their way. But it was no longer a pipe dream that B.R. could make a profit, the way to do it was now clear.
1962 December, “Dr. Beeching previews the plan for British Railways”, in Modern Railways, page 376
verb
third-person singular simple present Micawbers, present participle Micawbering, simple past and past participle Micawbered
To be optimistic that "something will turn up", in the style of Wilkins Micawber.
Quotations
To hope that the Administration and Congress will become Anti-National Bank, and thereby expect something, is Micawbering in dread earnest.
1865, “Suggestions to Bank Officers”, in Proceedings of the National Bank Convention, Held in New York City, Wednesday, October 19, 1864, Journal Book and Job Office, page 45
... not growing a single spiritual inch, for putting forth his powers as a man should; just amiably Micawbering along, and most Micawberly devoted to somebody he would like well enough to marry when the times comes and things "turn up;" ....
1872, Adeline Dutton Train Whitney, Sights and Insights: Patience Strong's Story of Over the Way, volume 1, J.R. Osgood & Company, published 1876, page 151
He found his native land overcrowded with young men of education and refinement, in the same predicament as himself—waiting for something to turn up; and while he was thus “Micawbering,” he met Miss Mary Anderson at the Farm street church, and from her obtained an engagement to take a singing part in “Ingomar.”
1895, Marwell Hall, “E. J. Ratcliffe”, in Gallery of Players from The Illustrated American, volume 1, number 5, Lorrilard Spencer, page 34