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termagant

 - 3 dictionary results

ter⋅ma⋅gant

  [tur-muh-guhnt]
Use termagant in a Sentence
–noun
1. a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman.
2. (initial capital letter) a mythical deity popularly believed in the Middle Ages to be worshiped by the Muslims and introduced into the morality play as a violent, overbearing personage in long robes.
–adjective
3. violent; turbulent; brawling; shrewish.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME Termagaunt, earlier Tervagaunt, alter. of OF Tervagan name of the imaginary deity

Related forms:
ter⋅ma⋅gant⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. shrew, virago, harridan, scold.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To termagant
ter·ma·gant   (tûr'mə-gənt)   
n.  A quarrelsome, scolding woman; a shrew.
adj.  Shrewish; scolding.

[From Middle English Termagaunt, imaginary Muslim deity portrayed as a violent and overbearing character in medieval mystery plays, alteration of Tervagant, from Old French.]
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

termagant 
1500, "violent, overbearing person" (especially of women), from Teruagant, Teruagaunt (c.1205), name of a fictitious Muslim deity appearing in medieval morality plays, from O.Fr. Tervagant, a proper name in "Chanson de Roland" (c.1100), of uncertain origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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