Definitions for surly
ˈsɜr lisur·ly

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. surly, uglyadjective

   inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace

   "a surly waiter"; "an ugly frame of mind"

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. surlyadverb

   In an arrogant or supercilious manner.

2. surlyadjective

   Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.

3. surlyadjective

   Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.

4. surlyadjective

   Threatening, menacing, gloomy.

   The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.

5. Etymology: Sixteenth-century alteration of sirly, from sir + -ly.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. SURLYadjective

   Gloomily morose; rough; uncivil; sour; silently angry.

   Etymology: from sur, sour , Saxon.

   ’Tis like you’ll prove a jolly surly groom,
   That take it on you at the first so roundly. William Shakespeare.

   That surly spirit, melancholy,
   Had bak’d thy blood, and made it heavy thick,
   Which else runs tickling up and down the veins,
   Making that ideot laughter keep mens eyes,
   And strain their cheeks to idle merriment. William Shakespeare, K. John.

   Against the Capitol I met a lion,
   Who glar’d upon me, and went surly by,
   Without annoying me. William Shakespeare, Julius Cæsar.

   Repuls’d by surly grooms, who wait before
   The sleeping tyrant’s interdicted door. Dryden.

   What if among the courtly tribe
   You lost a place, and sav’d a bribe?
   And then in surly mood came here
   To fifteen hundred pounds a year,
   And fierce against the whigs harangu’d? Jonathan Swift.

   The zephyrs floating loose, the timely rains,
   Now soften’d into joy the surly storms. James Thomson, Summer.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Surlyadjective

   arrogant; haughty

2. Surlyadjective

   gloomily morose; ill-natured, abrupt, and rude; severe; sour; crabbed; rough; sullen; gloomy; as, a surly groom; a surly dog; surly language; a surly look

3. Surlyadjective

   rough; dark; tempestuous

4. Etymology: [Probably from sir, and originally meaning, sirlike, i.e., proud. See Sir, and Like, a.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Surly

   sur′li, adj. morose: uncivil: tempestuous.—adv. Sur′lily.—n. Sur′liness. [For sir-ly, for sir-like, arrogant.]

How to pronounce surly?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say surly in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of surly in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of surly in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of surly in a Sentence

1. Maya Angelou:

   If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning Good morning at total strangers.

2. Maya Angelou:

   If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.

3. Robert Burns:

   When chill November's surly blast make fields and forest bare.

4. John Gillespie Magee:

   Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.

Popularity rank by frequency of use