querulous

English

Etymology

From Old French querelos, from Late Latin querulōsus, from Latin querulus, from queror (“I complain”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɛɹ(j)ʊləs/
• IPA^(key): /ˈkwɛɹ(j)ələs/, /ˈkwiːɹ(j)ələs/

Adjective

querulous (comparative more querulous, superlative most querulous)

1. Often complaining; suggesting a complaint in expression; fretful, whining.
   • 1877, Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet

     "There are no crimes and no criminals in these days," he said, querulously. "What is the use of having brains in our profession. I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous. No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent to the detection of crime which I have done. And what is the result? There is no crime to detect, or, at most, some bungling villainy with a motive so transparent that even a Scotland Yard official can see through it."

Synonyms

• For semantic relationships of this term, see irritable or peevish or sad in the Thesaurus.

Derived terms

• querulously
• querulousness

Translations

often complaining

• Chinese: 爱抱怨 挑剔

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Czech: fňukavý m, hašteřivý m
• Faroese: knarrutur, grenjutur
• Finnish: ruikuttava (fi)
• German: nörglerisch, quengelig

• Greek: μεμψίμοιρος (el) (mempsímoiros)
• Japanese: 短気 (たんき, tanki)
• Russian: ворчливый (ru) (vorčlivyj)
• Scots: fashious, girnie
• Scottish Gaelic: gearanach