What does it mean when someone is peevish?

1 : querulous in temperament or mood : fretful. 2 : perversely (see perverse sense 2b) obstinate a peevish child. 3 : marked by ill temper has a peevish, even spiteful, streak— Elizabeth Drew.

Where did the word peevish originate?

peevish (adj.) late 14c., peyvesshe “perverse, capricious, silly,” a word of uncertain origin; probably modeled on Latin perversus “reversed, perverse,” past participle of pervertere “to turn about” (see pervert (v.)). Original sense was obsolete from 17c.

What is the most likely meaning of peevishness?

Peevishness is crankiness or irritability. Your constant peevishness might make it difficult for you to make friends. If you’re having one of those days when everything seems to irritate you, what you’re feeling is peevishness.

Which is the best definition of the word peevish?

[pee-vish] See more synonyms for peevish on Thesaurus.com. adjective. cross, querulous, or fretful, as from vexation or discontent: a peevish youngster. showing annoyance, irritation, or bad mood: a peevish reply; a peevish frown.

Where is the peevish expression on the face?

The abundant hair and very open forehead gave an appearance of consequence to the face, which had only one expression–a petty, childish, peevish expression, concentrated just above the bridge of the narrow nose.

What does it mean to be a peevish soldier?

In this play-acting scenario, both parties exaggerate and flatten each other into caricatures in the course of an irritable and peevish exchange. Nearly half of the 75,493 troops were thus poorly trained, inexperienced, and peevish conscripts.

What makes a sinner peevish and irritable?

Often the first result of a bitter sense of sin is to make the sinner peevish and irritable. It made him peevish, because he hadn’t come to be bothered with such matters, and he started to piece out those wicks. But we could see her troubles with the peevish paralasys of age, with the tremendus follys of undisciplined youth.