apuff

English

Etymology

From a- +‎ puff.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈpʌf/

Adjective

apuff (comparative more apuff, superlative most apuff)

1. Out of breath; puffing.
   • 2009, L. Ron Hubbard, Man-Killers of the Air:

     “No,” said Smoke. “Just a one-sided argument. What's the news, Alex? You're all apuff.”

   • 2014, Jessie Haas, Westminster West:

     Aunt Mary Braley stood at the bedside, all apuff from the long climb up the stairs.

   • 2019, Margaret Atwood, The Testaments, →ISBN, page 345:

     Next to arrive was Aunt Helena, all apuff from limping over from the library.

2. worked up; visibly agitated.
   • 1966, United States. Congress, Congressional Record:

     Rookie policemen, apuff with zeal and a conviction anybody they arrested should get the book as an incorrigible miscreant, sometimes yiped loud and long about the judge's leniency.

   • 2008, Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss:

     Inside the room, specially vacated of all who normally slept there, Jemubhai, his face apuff with anger, grabbed at his wife.

   • 2012, Alfred Tella, Zuralia Dreaming:

     “Sorry, Jon, I didn't mean to interrupt your private party, but we've been invited to stay at the palace, and the majordomo is all apuff waiting to show us our rooms.

   • 2017, Joe Quirk, Seasteading:

     Argue about revolutionary ideas, advocate eloquently for some change in policy, work through the paralyzed political system, and probably get their periwigs all apuff with frustration.

Adverb

apuff (comparative more apuff, superlative most apuff)

1. While apuff.
   • 1937, Edward Livermore Burlingame, Robert Bridges, Alfred Dashiell, Scribner's Magazine - Volume 101, page 52:

     She asked Charles to sign our names and address in the curly-backed notebook as Eth limped up the stairs apuff with all the luggage.

Anagrams

• puffa