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shrilly

 - 3 dictionary results

shrill

  [shril] adjective, -er, -est, verb, noun, adverb
Use shrilly in a Sentence
–adjective
1. high-pitched and piercing in sound quality: a shrill cry.
2. producing such a sound.
3. full of or characterized by such a sound: shrill music.
4. betraying some strong emotion or attitude in an exaggerated amount, as antagonism or defensiveness.
5. marked by great intensity; keen: the shrill, incandescent light of the exploding bomb.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
6. to cry shrilly.
–noun
7. a shrill sound.
–adverb
8. in a shrill manner; shrilly.
Origin:
1300–50; ME shrille (adj., v.); akin to OE scrallettan to sound loudly; c. G schrill (adj.), schrillen (v.); cf. ON skrīll rabble

Related forms:
shrillness, noun
shrilly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To shrilly
shrill   (shrĭl)   
adj.   shrill·er, shrill·est

  1. High-pitched and piercing in tone or sound: the shrill wail of a siren.

  2. Producing a sharp, high-pitched tone or sound: a shrill fife.

  3. Sharp or keen to the senses; harshly vivid: shrill colors.

v.   shrilled, shrill·ing, shrills

v.   tr.
To utter in a shrill manner; scream.
v.   intr.
To produce a shrill cry or sound.

[Middle English shrille.]
shrill'ness n., shril'ly adv.
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

shrill 
c.1386, schrylle "high-pitched, piercing" (of the voice), probably related to O.E. scralletan "to sound loudly," of imitative origin (cf. Low Ger. schrell, Ger. schrill "piercing, shrill"). The verb sense of "to sound shrilly" is recorded from c.1300.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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