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ruffianly. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ruffianly, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ruffianly in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
ruffianly you have here. The definition of the word
ruffianly will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
ruffianly, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
ruffian + -ly
Adjective
ruffianly (comparative more ruffianly, superlative most ruffianly)
- Like or having the qualities of a ruffian.
1847, Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, section I:Joseph mumbled indistinctly in the depth of the cellar, but gave no intimation of ascending; so his master dived down to him, leaving me vis-à-vis the ruffianly bitch and a pair of grim shaggy sheepdogs […].
1922, “The Seven against Thebes”, in Geoffrey Montagu Cookson, transl., Four Plays of Aeschylus, page 136:One righteous man who reverences the Gods
Shall shipmate be with a ruffianly crew[…].
Translations
like or having the qualities of a ruffian
Adverb
ruffianly (comparative more ruffianly, superlative most ruffianly)
- In the manner of a ruffian.
Translations
in the manner of a ruffian