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prettygoodwordAnnnd we're back on the air -- this is hit blog KWTD, bringing you the first pretty good word of the new year:
ornery (AWR-nuh-ree) - adj., mean-spirited, cantankerous, or contrary in disposition; stubborn; low or treacherous.
This is an American dialectal contraction from the 1790s of ordinary in the sense of commonplace, taken in the direction of meaning poor quality/coarse/ugly." By around 1860, the sense had evolved to mean/cantankerous. When used with the connotation of stubborn, it can be something of a compliment while still retaining the cantankerous meaning: the "ornery old prospector" might chase you off with a shotgun or simply just not quit looking for gold.
---L.
ornery (AWR-nuh-ree) - adj., mean-spirited, cantankerous, or contrary in disposition; stubborn; low or treacherous.
This is an American dialectal contraction from the 1790s of ordinary in the sense of commonplace, taken in the direction of meaning poor quality/coarse/ugly." By around 1860, the sense had evolved to mean/cantankerous. When used with the connotation of stubborn, it can be something of a compliment while still retaining the cantankerous meaning: the "ornery old prospector" might chase you off with a shotgun or simply just not quit looking for gold.
---L.
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Date: 2017-01-04 11:01 pm (UTC)Interesting etymology for this word, never knew that before; thanks!