surliness

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word surliness. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word surliness, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say surliness in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word surliness you have here. The definition of the word surliness will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofsurliness, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

From surly +‎ -ness.

Noun

surliness (usually uncountable, plural surlinesses)

  1. The property of being surly.
    • 1979 August 4, Carl Wittman, “Streets of San Francisco”, in Gay Community News, page 12:
      There has been an escalation of police harassment in the gay community: five brutal busts at the Crystal Hotel; the closing of sex clubs without notice; beatings of women outside Amelia's Bar in January and surliness and assaults against lesbians by off duty officers at Peg's Club later.

Translations