attern

English

Etymology

From Middle English attern, from Old English ǣtren (“poisoned, poisonous, venomous”), from Proto-Germanic *aitrīnaz (“poisonous”), equivalent to atter +‎ -en. Cognate with Middle High German eiterin (“poisonous”). More at atter.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ætə(ɹ)n

Adjective

attern (comparative more attern, superlative most attern)

1. (UK dialectal) Venomous; poisonous.
2. (UK dialectal, of people) Cruel; fierce; ill-natured.

Derived terms

• attern-temper

Anagrams

• Arnett, natter, ratten, tarten, treant

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Middle English

Alternative forms

• atterne, hatterne

Etymology

From Old English ǣtren, ættern.

Adjective

attern

1. Containing poison; poisonous, venomous.

Descendants

• English: attern

References

• “attern (adj.)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 27 April 2018.