You searched for: “cantankerous”
cantankerous (adjective), more cantankerous, most cantankerous
1. Relating to a difficulty of getting along with others because of a personality that is ready to make trouble or to oppose anything suggested by anyone else: Sometimes Nancy's cantankerous boss is easily annoyed and becomes angry when the members of his staff don't do their assignments as quickly as he wants them to.
2. Etymology: the origin is not unanimously agreed to by all sources; possibly it is from Middle English contekour, "brawler" from contek, "strife" or perhaps from Irish cannran, "strife, grumbling".
Conveying an ill-natured or perverse mood.
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Ill-tempered or unreasonable.
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This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group C (page 2)