tartly en · ADV
Etymology
Etymology tree English tart Middle English -ly English -ly English tartly From tart + -ly.
Meanings
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In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly.
The next day, the deputy chancellor, Robert Habeck, a Green, said tartly, “I’m pleased that France is thinking about how to increase its support for Ukraine, but if I could give it a word of advice — supply more weapons.”
2024 March 9, Steven Erlanger, Roger Cohen, Erika Solomon, “Macron and Scholz, Never Close, Spar Over Policy Toward Ukraine and Russia”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:'And have you nothing for me, duckie?' 'O, you! The back of my hand to you!' said Mrs Kernan tartly.
1905 (date written), James Joyce, “Grace”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 199:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most tartly | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more tartly | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |