surly

English

Etymology

Sixteenth-century alteration of sirly, from sir + -ly.

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈsɜːli/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)li

Adjective

surly (comparative surlier, superlative surliest)

1. (obsolete) Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.
2. Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
3. Threatening, menacing, gloomy.

   The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.

Translations

lordly, arrogant, supercilious

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Dutch: arrogant (nl) , bazig (nl)
• Finnish: koppava (fi), pöyhkeä (fi)

• French: arrogant (fr) , autoritaire (fr)
• German: überheblich (de)
• Russian: надменный (ru) (nadménnyj)

irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Dutch: knorrig (nl) , bars (nl), onbeleefd (nl)
• Finnish: hapan (fi), pahantuulinen (fi), töykeä (fi)
• French: grognon (fr) , grincheux (fr), impoli (fr)

• Irish: mosach (ga)
• Italian: scontroso (it)
• Russian: угрюмый (ru) (ugrjúmyj), сердитый (ru) (serdítyj), грубый (ru) (grúbyj), неприветливый (ru) (neprivétlivyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: gruamach (gd)

threatening, menacing, gloomy

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Dutch: bedreigend (nl) , bars (nl), mistroostig (nl)
• Finnish: uhkaava (fi)

• French: menaçant (fr) , rude (fr), morne (fr)
• Russian: угрожающий (ru) (ugrožájuščij), грозный (ru) (gróznyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: gruamach (gd)

Adverb

surly (comparative surlier, superlative surliest)

1. (obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.
   • 1623, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.iii,

     Against the Capitol I met a lion / Who glazed upon me, and went surly