surly

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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.

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

surly (comparative surlier, superlative surliest)

  1. (obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.

Middle English

Adverb

surly

  1. Alternative form of surely