surliness

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From surly +‎ -ness.

Noun[edit]

surliness (usually uncountable, plural surlinesses)

  1. The property of being surly.
    • 1979 August 4, Carl Wittman, “Streets of San Francisco”, in Gay Community News, page 12:
      There has been an escalation of police harassment in the gay community: five brutal busts at the Crystal Hotel; the closing of sex clubs without notice; beatings of women outside Amelia's Bar in January and surliness and assaults against lesbians by off duty officers at Peg's Club later.

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