Thicknesse: Question on Pronunciation

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Mhochberg at ... wrote:
>
> > CMC:
> > How is Thicknesse pronounced? Two syllable (thick-ness)  or three 
> > (thick-nes-sy) 
> 
> Goddlefrood:
> I pronounced it as  the former. As in largesse, if that helps.
> 
> Mary:
> That is how Jim Dale pronounces it in the audiobook.

Geoff:
I think this is another of JKR's marvellous wordplays - in the Diagon 
Alley/Umbridge/Disillusion tradition.

I would see Pius Thicknesse = pious thickness which would give two 
syllables to his surname.

My dictionary gives a second meaning to "pious" which is "making a 
hypocritical display of virtue". It immediately made me think of 
Charles Dickens' Uriah Heep who was a singularly unpleasant 
character. Thickness(e) speaks for itself. :-)