surly
pronunciation
How to pronounce surly in British English:
UK [ˈsɜ:li]
How to pronounce surly in American English:
US [ˈsɜrli]
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- Adjective:
- inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
Word Origin
- surly (adj.)
- 1570s, "haughty, imperious," alteration of Middle English sirly "lordly, imperious" (14c.), literally "like a sir," from sir + -ly (1). The meaning "rude, gruff" is first attested 1660s. For sense development, compare lordly, and German herrisch "domineering, imperious," from Herr "master, lord." Related: Surliness.
Example
- 1. Surly is my hero . Had he waited just five minutes to call for me , it would have been too late , game over .
- 2. I run back and standing before me is ' surly ' , smiling and holding aloft a purse my purse containing my passport , money and credit cards .
- 3. Against a backdrop of two wars and a surly economy , mars is no longer ascendant in mr obama 's washington .