mə 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; Middle English Termagaunt, earlier Tervagaunt, alteration of Old French Tervagan name of the imaginary deity
1175–1225; Middle English Termagaunt, earlier Tervagaunt, alteration of Old French Tervagan name of the imaginary deity
Related forms
ter·ma·gant·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. shrew, virago, harridan, scold.
1. shrew, virago, harridan, scold.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To termagant
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Termagant
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is prate. Does it mean:
| to talk excessively and pointlessly; babble: |
| a member of a school of ancient Greece maintaining that real knowledge is impossible; any later thinker who doubts the possibility of real knowledge |
Collins
World English Dictionary
termagant (ˈtɜːməɡənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| a. a shrewish woman; scold | |
| b. (as modifier): a termagant woman | |
| [C13: from earlier Tervagaunt, from Old French Tervagan, from Italian Trivigante; after an arrogant character in medieval mystery plays who was supposed to be a Muslim deity] | |
| 'termagancy | |
| —n | |
| 'termagantly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
termagant
c.1500, "violent, overbearing person" (especially of women), from Teruagant, Teruagaunt (c.1200), 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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