单词 | harridan |
释义 | harridan (once / 31022 pages) n You might call the old lady next door who yells at you to stay off her lawn a harridan. When you see the word harridan, think of the Wicked Witch of the West — a mean-tempered, sharp-tongued old woman. Calling an older, bossy woman a harridan is certainly not a compliment, although most harridans — aside from your strict old scold of an English teacher — probably won't be familiar with the somewhat obscure term. It comes from seventeenth century slang, probably stemming from the French word haridelle, or "old horse." WORD FAMILYharridan: harridans USAGE EXAMPLESVoters could consider her a canny, fearless provocateur — or simply a shrill harridan. Washington Times(Jun 19, 2016) During the London episode, she said, “people felt like something was being taken away” by the “harridans of political correctness.” New York Times(Feb 21, 2016) A mother, an estranged wife, a daughter, a student — almost all are tearful harridans, teasing seductresses or heartless, laughing tormentors. New York Times(Dec 03, 2015) n a scolding (even vicious) old woman Hyper common scold, nag, nagger, scold, scolder someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault |
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