attery en · ADJ
Etymology
From Middle English attery, attry, attri, ætriȝ, from Old English ǣttriġ, ǣtriġ (“poisonous”), from Proto-Germanic *aitrīgaz (“poisonous”). Cognate with Dutch etterig (“purulent”), German eiterig (“purulent, festering”), Swedish ettrig (“poisonous”). By surface analysis, atter (“poison”) + -y.
Meanings
- (archaic, dialectal) Poisonous; venomous
- (archaic, dialectal) Pernicious
- (archaic, dialectal, of a wound or sore) Purulent; containing pus or matter
- (archaic, dialectal, of mood or disposition) Bad-tempered; spiteful; quarrelsome; peevish; angry; hot-headed
- (archaic, dialectal, of weather) Cold; bleak; grim
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| aitrie | Scotland, alternative | lexicographic | |
| attry | alternative | lexicographic | |
| more attery | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| aittrie | Scotland, alternative | lexicographic | |
| etri | Scotland, alternative | lexicographic | |
| most attery | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| att'ry | alternative | lexicographic |