scurrilous

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English

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Etymology

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From Latin scurrīlis (buffoon-like) + -ous, from scurra (a buffoon).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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scurrilous (comparative more scurrilous, superlative most scurrilous)

  1. (of a person) Given to vulgar verbal abuse; foul-mouthed.
  2. (of language) Coarse, vulgar, abusive, or slanderous.
    • 2022 February 3, Heather Stewart, quoting Munira Mirza, “Boris Johnson’s policy chief quits over PM’s ‘scurrilous’ Savile remark”, in The Guardian[1]:
      She said Johnson was “a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand”, adding that it was “so desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the leader of the opposition”.
  3. Gross, vulgar and evil.
    We have had our address used by scurrilous crooks in the past to gain assets by fraud.
    • 2013, Alex Himelfarb, Jordan Himelfarb, Tax Is Not a Four-Letter Word: A Different Take on Taxes in Canada[2]:
      "Some days, I try to imagine how scurrilous it would be for a left-leaning government in Canada to embark on such a costly political agenda for, say, a 10-year period, and still find itself unable to convince Canadians that the majority have benefited from this."
    • 1967, Stan Lee, John Romita Sr, The Amazing Spider-Man #48:
      "Instead, another dangerous killer now roams our streets, thanks to that scurrilous, sinister super-heel!"
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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Further reading

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