surly
UK /ˈsɜːli/ · US /ˈsɝli/ adjective, adverb
Forms surlier surliest
- adjective Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
- adjective Threatening, menacing, gloomy. “The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.”
- adjective (obsolete) Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.
- adverb (obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.
Synonyms
Etymology
16th-century alteration of sirly, from sir + -ly.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Arrogant; haughty. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
- adjective Gloomily morose; ill-natured, abrupt, and rude; severe; sour; crabbed; rough; sullen; gloomy; as, a surly groom; a surly dog; surly language; a surly look. "That surly spirit, melancholy." Shak.
Etymology [Probably from sir, and originally meaning, sirlike, i.e., proud. See Sir, and Like, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “surly”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details