waspish

waspish
waspishly, adv.waspishness, n.
/wos"pish/, adj.
1. like or suggesting a wasp, esp. in behavior.
2. quick to resent a trifling affront or injury; snappish.
3. irascibly or petulantly spiteful: waspish writing.
4. having a slight or slender build.
[1560-70; WASP + -ISH1]
Syn. 2. resentful. 3. testy, touchy.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Waspish — Wasp ish, a. 1. Resembling a wasp in form; having a slender waist, like a wasp. [1913 Webster] 2. Quick to resent a trifling affront; characterized by snappishness; irritable; irascible; petulant; snappish. [1913 Webster] He was naturally a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • waspish — index fractious, perverse, petulant, querulous, resentful Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • waspish — irrascible, quick to take offense; spiteful, 1560s, from WASP (Cf. wasp) + ISH (Cf. ish). Related: Waspishly; waspishness …   Etymology dictionary

  • waspish — snappish, *irritable, fractious, peevish, petulant, pettish, huffy, fretful, querulous Analogous words: testy, touchy, cranky, cross, *irascible: *impatient: *contrary, perverse: spiteful, *malicious …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • waspish — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ sharply irritable. DERIVATIVES waspishly adverb waspishness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • waspish — [wäs′pish, wôs′pish] adj. 1. of or like a wasp 2. having a slender waist, like a wasp 3. bad tempered; snappish waspishly adv. waspishness n …   English World dictionary

  • waspish — [[t]wɒ̱spɪʃ[/t]] ADJ GRADED A waspish remark or sense of humour is sharp and critical. ...a lawyer with an inventive mind and a waspish sense of humour …   English dictionary

  • waspish — mod. in the manner of a WASP. □ She looks sort of waspish, but she’s not. □ Sally is a waspish kind of yuppie …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • waspish — adjective Date: 1566 1. resembling a wasp in behavior; especially snappish, petulant < a waspish temper > 2. resembling a wasp in form; especially slightly built • waspishly adverb • waspishness noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Waspish — Waspishly, WASPishly, adv. Waspishness, WASPishness, n. /wos pish/, adj. Waspy. Also, WASPish. [1965 70; WASP + ISH1] * * * …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”