nasty

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.4 Noun 1.5 Derived terms 1.6 Anagrams

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Unknown. Theories include:

• Old French nastre = "bad, strange", shortened form of villenastre ="infamous, bad", from vilein = "villain" + -astre (pejorative suffix, from Latin -aster).
• Dutch nestig = "dirty", literally "like a bird's nest".
• Old High German naz = "wet"
• Likely reinforced by a Scandinavian source (compare Swedish dialect naskug = "dirty, nasty").
• A hardened form of an old word "neshy" = "soft".
• Modern usage of the word "nasty" is sometimes attributed to the very popular but often derogatory 19th Century American political cartoons of Thomas Nast.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈnɑː.sti/
  • Rhymes: -ɑːsti
• (AusE) IPA: /ˈnaː.sti/
  • Rhymes: -ɑːsti
• (GenAm) IPA: /ˈnæs.ti/  Audio (US)^{help, file}
  • Rhymes: -æsti

[edit] Adjective

nasty (comparative nastier, superlative nastiest)

1. disgusting; physically repellent
2. indecent or offensive
3. malicious or spiteful

   He tells nasty lies.

4. very unpleasant

   It was a nasty night to venture out.

5. grave or dangerous

   The cyclist had a nasty accident.

[edit] Noun

nasty (plural nasties)

1. Something nasty.
2. (euphemism, preceded by "the") Sexual intercourse.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: ansty
• antsy
• Santy
• tansy