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peevish

 - 3 dictionary results

pee⋅vish

  [pee-vish]
Use peevish in a Sentence
–adjective
1. cross, querulous, or fretful, as from vexation or discontent: a peevish youngster.
2. showing annoyance, irritation, or bad mood: a peevish reply; a peevish frown.
3. perverse or obstinate.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME pevysh < ?

Related forms:
pee⋅vish⋅ly, adverb
pee⋅vish⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. petulant, irritable, snappish. See cross.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To peevish
pee·vish   (pē'vĭsh)   
adj.  

    1. Querulous or discontented.

    2. Ill-tempered.

  2. Contrary; fractious.


[Middle English pevish, possibly from Latin perversus, past participle of perversus; see perverse.]
pee'vish·ly adv., pee'vish·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

peevish 
1393, peyvesshe "perverse, capricious, silly," of uncertain origin, possibly modeled on L. perversus "reversed, perverse," pp. of pervertere "to turn about" (see pervert). Meaning "cross, fretful" first recorded c.1530. The verb peeve is a 1908 back-formation; pet peeve "the thing that provokes one most" is first attested 1919.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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