Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Irritated, impatient, or exasperated; peevish.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Irritable; irascible; choleric; cross; petulant.
- Synonyms Pettish, touchy, waspish, snappish, peevish, splenetic, captious, peppery.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Fretful; peevish; petulant; easily irritated.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Easily annoyed,
irritable . - adjective Marked by
impatience or ill humor.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective easily irritated or annoyed
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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She comes back, a little testy: "Pollo is the Spanish word for CHICKEN!"
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She seems to think getting testy is that same as showing strength.
State of the Race: Steve Poizner (R CAND, CA-GOV). | RedState 2010
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I especially loved the way she said "testy" - a defining Venetian characteristic
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Mr. Benn described as testy an exchange of letters between the two leaders over the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty.
Israel Matzav 2009
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Mr. Benn described as testy an exchange of letters between the two leaders over the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty.
Israel Matzav 2009
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Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.) described the meeting as "testy," and Sen. John Thune (S.D.) called it a "lively discussion."
At President Obama's talks with Senate Republicans, little is accomplished 2010
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Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.) described the meeting as "testy," and Sen. John Thune (S.D.) called it a "lively discussion."
At President Obama's talks with Senate Republicans, little is accomplished 2010
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Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), on the other hand, called the meeting "testy," while Sen. John Thune (R-S. D.) gave it the less conflictual title of a "lively discussion."
Republicans Say 'Thin Skinned' Obama Should 'Take A Valium' 2010
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There was only one moment where it approached 'testy' and I swear I saw a set of rolled eyeballs.
Denis Campbell: Mr. Cairns Goes to Westminster? UK Election Writ Small, Retail & Local 2010
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Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.) described the meeting as "testy," and Sen. John Thune (S.D.) called it a "lively discussion."
At President Obama's talks with Senate Republicans, little is accomplished 2010
arby commented on the word testy
D'you suppose this is related to testes? (cf. testicular and the brilliant testiculate)
October 4, 2007
reesetee commented on the word testy
Don't think so, arby, though I'm not positive. I think testy is from the Latin (and later, Italian and French) for "head"--so "headstrong," more or less.
There's an interesting word history for testis here.
October 4, 2007
uselessness commented on the word testy
On the contrary, there's a proven correlation. Science said it, history proved it, and I vouched for it. The connection is so real, etymology doesn't know about it yet. But it's pretty much indisputable fact amongst educated people. Some groups have even organized their own religions around this unwavering truth. You bet your buttons, you can totally bank on it.
October 5, 2007
reesetee commented on the word testy
That'll learn me. Never enter uselessness' Land of Madeupical Etymologies without a map.
October 5, 2007
uselessness commented on the word testy
It's science!!
October 5, 2007
reesetee commented on the word testy
Never enter uselessness' Land of Madeupical Science without a map.
October 5, 2007
uselessness commented on the word testy
*unless you're trying an expeeryment.
October 5, 2007