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humph. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
humph, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
humph in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
humph you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
A natural utterance, first recorded in the mid-16th century.
Pronunciation
Interjection
humph
- (onomatopoeia) A sound, usually made with a closed mouth pouting, indicating annoyance, indignation, disapproval, doubt, or sighing.
1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:`Beauty is too rare upon it. Give me no thanks, who am made happy by thy coming.' `Humph! old fellow,' said Leo aside to me in English, `the lady is very civil.'
1913, Eleanor H. Porter, chapter 8, in Pollyanna, L.C. Page, →OCLC:"There!" panted Pollyanna, hastily plucking a pink from a vase near by and tucking it into the dark hair where it would give the best effect. "Now I reckon we're ready to be looked at!" And she held out the mirror in triumph.
"Humph!" grunted the sick woman, eyeing her reflection severely. "I like red pinks better than pink ones; but then, it'll fade, anyhow, before night, so what's the difference!"
Synonyms
Translations
used to express doubt or disapproval
Verb
humph (third-person singular simple present humphs, present participle humphing, simple past and past participle humphed)
- (intransitive) To utter "humph!" in doubt or disapproval.