/ˈsɜːli/, /ˈsɝli/
Origin16th-century alteration of sirly, from sir + -ly.
- Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
- Threatening, menacing, gloomy.
“The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.”
- obsoleteLordly, arrogant, supercilious.
- obsoleteIn an arrogant or supercilious manner.
“Against the Capitol I met a lion / Who glazed upon me, and went surly by / Without annoying me […]”
Formssurlier(comparative) · surliest(superlative)