pernickety

[ per-nik-i-tee ]

adjective

Origin of pernickety

1
1800–10; originally Scots; of uncertain origin; the prefix per- occurs in a number of other expressive words in Scots, e.g. pergaddus thump, clatter, perskeet fastidious, perjink trim, neat

Other words from pernickety

  • per·nick·et·i·ness, noun

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British Dictionary definitions for pernickety

pernickety

US persnickety

/ (pəˈnɪkɪtɪ) /


adjectiveinformal
  1. excessively precise and attentive to detail; fussy

  2. (of a task) requiring close attention; exacting

Origin of pernickety

1
C19: originally Scottish, of unknown origin

Derived forms of pernickety

  • pernicketiness or US persnicketiness, noun

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