waspishness

1 definition found

waspishness - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Waspish \Wasp"ish\, a.
     1. Resembling a wasp in form; having a slender waist, like a
        wasp.
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     2. Quick to resent a trifling affront; characterized by
        snappishness; irritable; irascible; petulant; snappish.
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              He was naturally a waspish and hot man. --Bp. Hall.
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              Much do I suffer, much, to keep in peace
              This jealous, waspish, wrong-head, rhyming race.
                                                    --Pope.
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     Syn: Snappish; petulant; irritable; irascible; testy;
          peevish; captious.
          [1913 Webster] -- Wasp"ish*ly, adv. --
          Wasp"ish*ness, n.
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