| 释义 |
pettish, a.|ˈpɛtɪʃ|
[f. pet n.2 + -ish1.
But the earliest quots. precede our first example of the n., and are not clearly connected with it in sense.]
Subject to ‘pets’ or fits of offended ill humour; in a pet; proceeding from, pertaining to, or of the nature of, a pet; impatiently angry; peevish, ill-humoured, petulant; easily ‘put out’.
[1552Huloet, Petyshe, impetuosus. 1570Levins Manip. 145/44 Pétish, effrænis, iracundus.] a1591R. Greenham Wks. (1599) 12, I am pettish, I am vncomfortable and vnquiet with them, with whom I liue. a1641Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. iv. (1642) 272 He became pettish, wayward, frantick, bloudy. 1653Sclater Civ. Magistracy 17 The pettish Israelites (a people seldom if ever, pleased with God's present Providencies) who murmured under Moses. 1666Pepys Diary 6 Aug., I checked her, which made her mighty pettish. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xii, She received the apology with the air of a pettish girl. 1838Lytton Alice iii. vii, This was a very pettish speech in Evelyn. 1873J. R. Green Letters (1901) i. 7, I was..too weak and pettish for the rougher horse-jokes of stronger boys. |