unruly
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English unruly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- + rule + -ly (compare Middle English ruly, reuli (“subject to a religious rule, regular”)), but also representing a modified continuation of earlier Middle English unrouly, unroly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- + roolie. The latter is perhaps from or influenced by Old Norse *úróligr, related to Danish urolig (“restless”), Swedish orolig (“restless”), Icelandic órólegur (“agitated”). Compare also Middle English unroo, unro (“unrest”). More at roo.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
unruly (comparative unrulier, superlative unruliest)
- Wild; uncontrolled.
- The police gathered to contain the unruly mob.
- 1985, Morrissey & Johnny Marr (lyrics and music), “Barbarism Begins at Home”, in Meat Is Murder, performed by The Smiths:
- Unruly boys who will not grow up / Must be taken in hand / Unruly girls who will not settle down / They must be taken in hand
- 2011 Allen Gregory, "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1):
- Richard DeLongpre: Are you okay, my boy angel?
- Allen Gregory DeLongpre: I have a broken heart. And undergarments filled with my own unruly waste.
Translations[edit]
wild
|
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms prefixed with un-
- English terms suffixed with -ly
- English terms derived from Old Norse
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/uːli
- Rhymes:English/uːli/3 syllables
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- en:Personality