Panjandrum

Panjandrum is a noun that refers to a person who claims to have great influence. The strange origin or our word of the day begins with an 18th century playwright named Samuel Foote, who simply made up the word as a test of memory for an actor friend of his. Decades later the word came to refer to a person claiming to be a great importance. Horace can come across as something of a panjandrum. He struts around as if he expects everyone to either serve him or get out of his way.