surly

English

Etymology

16th-century alteration of sirly, from sir + -ly.

Pronunciation

Adjective

surly (comparative surlier, superlative surliest)

  1. Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
  2. Threatening, menacing, gloomy.
    The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.
  3. (obsolete) Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.

Translations

Adverb

surly (comparative surlier, superlative surliest)

  1. (obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.
    • 1623, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.iii,
      Against the Capitol I met a lion / Who glazed upon me, and went surly by / Without annoying me []

Middle English

Adverb

surly

  1. Alternative form of surely
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