peevish

English

WOTD – 14 December 2024

Etymology

The adjective is derived from Late Middle English pievish, peuysche, pevish, pevysh (“capricious, wilful; perverse, wayward”);^[1] further etymology uncertain, possibly from one of the following:

• From an unattested Old French word, from Latin perversus (“corrupted, perverted, subverted; overthrown”), the perfect passive participle of pervertō (“to corrupt, subvert; to overthrow”), from per- (prefix meaning ‘intensively, thoroughly’) + vertō (“to turn; to turn upside down, overturn, overthrow, subvert”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to rotate; to turn”)). However, the Oxford English Dictionary says this derivation “presents some formal difficulties”.^[2]
• From Middle French *expaive + English -ish. *Expaive is an unattested variant of Middle French espave, Old French espave (“(adjective) of an animal: stray; of a person: foreign; (noun) flotsam; lost property”) (referring to the behaviour of stray animals; modern French épave), from Latin expavidus (“extremely frightened or horrified”),^[2] from ex- (intensifying prefix) + pavidus (“fearful, terrified; quaking, trembling; shy, timid”) (from paveō (“to be afraid; fear; to quake or tremble with fear”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *paw- (“to hit, strike”)) + -idus (suffix meaning ‘tending to’ forming adjectives)).

The adverb is derived from the adjective.^[2]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpiːvɪʃ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpivɪʃ/
• Rhymes: -iːvɪʃ
• Hyphenation: peev‧ish

Adjective

peevish (comparative more peevish, superlative most peevish)

1. Constantly complaining, especially in a childish way due to insignificant matters; fretful, whiny.

   Antonym: unpeevish

   Due to the long wait, there were several peevish patients in the doctor’s waiting room.

   • a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “Sermon I. The Pleasantness of Religion.”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume I, London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830, →OCLC, page 18:

     [T]he nature of religion, […] showeth it consisteth […] not in a peevish crossness and obstinate repugnancy to received laws and customs, but in a quiet and peaceable submission to the express laws of God, and lawful commands of man; […]

   • 1711 July 14 (Gregorian calendar), [Richard Steele], “TUESDAY, July 3, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 107; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 78:

     This makes his own mind untroubled, and consequently unapt to vent peevish expressions, or give passionate or inconsistent orders to those about him.

     The spelling has been modernized.

   • 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter XVIII, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 214:

     [T]he luckless Kitty continued in the parlour repining at her fate in terms as unreasonable as her accent was peevish.

   • 1822, William Hazlitt, “Essay IV. On Coffee-house Politicians.”, in Table-Talk; or, Original Essays, volume II, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Henry Colburn and Co., →OCLC, pages 73–74:

     There is E——, […] querulous and dictatorial, and with a peevish whine in his voice like a beaten school-boy.

   • 1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Buckthorne, or The Young Man of Great Expectations”, in Tales of a Traveller, part 2 (Buckthorne and His Friends), Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea, […], →OCLC, page 107:

     Our tragedian was a rough joker off the stage; our prime clown the most peevish mortal living. The latter used to go about snapping and snarling, with a broad laugh painted on his countenance; […] there is no more melancholy creature in existence than a mountebank off duty.

2. Quick to become bad-tempered or cross, especially due to insignificant matters; irritable, pettish, petulant. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: querulous; see also Thesaurus:irritable, Thesaurus:peevish

   Antonym: unpeevish

   I would rather figure things out on my own than ask that peevish librarian for help.

   • a. 1530 (date written), John Skelton, “Poems against Garnesche. Skelton Laureate Defendar ageinst Lusty Garnyshe Well Beseen Crystofer Chalangar, et cetera.”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC, page 130, lines 145–147:

     The follest slouen ondyr heuen, / Prowde, peuiche, lyddyr, and lewde, / Malapert, medyllar, nothyng well thewde, […]

     The foullest sloven under heaven, / Proud, peevish, lither, and lewd, / Malapert, meddler, nothing well thewed, […]

   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], signature A3, recto:

     VVhy ſhould a man vvhoſe blood is vvarme vvithin, / Sit like his Grandſire, cut in Alabaſter? / Sleepe vvhen he vvakes? and creepe into the Iaundies / By beeing peeuiſh?

   • 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vii], page 82, column 2:

     VVhat a vvretched and peeuiſh fellow is this King of England, to mope vvith his fat-brain'd follovvers ſo farre out of his knovvledge.

   • 1650, Thomas Fuller, “The Wilderness of Paran”, in A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the Confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament Acted thereon, London: […] J. F. for John Williams […], →OCLC, book IV, paragraph 44, page 57:

     Gods providence on purpoſe permitted Moſes to fall into this peeviſh paſſion, to manifeſt the vaſt difference betvveen humane and Divine meekneſs.

   • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “[XXVIII Sermons Preached at Golden Grove; Being for the Summer Half-year, […].] Sermon XIV. Of Growth in Grace.”, in ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1654, →OCLC, page 181:

     Some men faſt to mortifie their luſt, and their faſting makes them peeviſh: […]

   • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 118:

     Since you are ready to take up reports, and to judge ſo raſhly as you do; I cannot but conclude you are ſome peeviſh, or melancholy Man, not fit to be diſcourſed vvith; and ſo adieu.

   • 1915 November, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “The Mixer: I. He Meets a Shy Gentleman.”, in The Man with Two Left Feet and Other Stories, London: Methuen & Co. […], published 1922, →OCLC, page 67:

     At first he was quite peevish. "What's the idea," he said, "coming and spoiling a man's beauty-sleep? Get out."

   • 1927, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, Emily’s Quest, London: McClelland & Stewart, →OCLC, section 4, page 115:

     Something has happened to sour February's temper. Such a peevish month. […] A dreary snowstorm is raging and the wind is pursuing tormented wreaths over the hills.

     A figurative use.

   • 1975, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, →ISBN, page 487:

     They used to tell one about a kid asking his grumpy old man when they were walking to the park, 'What's the name of this flower, Papa?' And the old guy is peevish and he yells, 'How should I know? Am I in the millinery business?'

3. (Canada, Northern England, figurative) Of weather: blustery, windy; also, of wind: cold and strong; bitter, sharp.
   • 1744, John Armstrong, “Book III. Exercise.”, in The Art of Preserving Health: A Poem, […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 63, lines 30–31:

     Serene he bears the peeviſh eaſtern blaſt, / And uninfected breaths the mortal South.

4. (obsolete)
   1. Coy, modest.
   2. Foolish, silly. [16th–17th c.]
      • c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene vi], page 171, column 2:

        VVhy vvhat a peeuiſh Foole vvas that of Creet [i.e., Daedalus], / That taught his Sonne [Icarus] the office of a Fovvle, / And yet for all his vvings, the Foole vvas drovvn'd.

      • c. 1626 or 1629–1633 (first performance), [John Ford], ’Tis Pitty Shee’s a Whore […], London: […] Nicholas Okes for Richard Collins, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act V, signature I2, verso:

        Confuſion take ſuch dotage, 'tis but forg'd, / This is your peeuiſh chattering vveake old man.

   3. Harmful, injurious; also, mischievous; or malicious, spiteful. [16th–17th c.]

      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:harmful

      • 1569, Richard Grafton, “The Seuenth Age, and Seuenth Part of this Chronicle. Edwarde the First.”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume I, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 176:

        [The Scots] brent ſome of the English Shippes. With the which victory, they were ſo inflamed with pride, that in deriſion of the king, they made certaine peeuiſhe and mocking rymes vvhich I paſſe ouer.

      • 1600 (date written), [John Marston], Iacke Drums Entertainment: Or The Comedie of Pasquill and Katherine. […], London: […] [Thomas Creede] for Richard Oliue [i.e., Oliff], […], published 1601, →OCLC, Act II, signature D2, verso:

        Ile home, and ſtarue, this croſſe, this peeuiſh hap, / Strikes dead my ſpirits like a thunderclap.

   4. Impulsive and unpredictable; capricious, fickle.
      • c. 1552 (date written), Nicholas Udall, [Ralph Roister Doister], [London]: [s.n.], published 1566?; republished as Edward Arber, editor, Roister Doister. […] (English Reprints), London: Muir & Paterson, […], 24 July 1869, →OCLC, Act III, scene iii, page 46:

        [T]heſe women be all ſuche madde pieuiſhe elues / They will not be wonne except it pleaſe them ſelues.

      • c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 36, column 2:

        VVhy this it is, to be a peeuiſh Girle, / That flies her fortune vvhen it follovves her: […]

   5. Obstinately in the wrong; perverse, stubborn. [15th–17th c.]

      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:obstinate

      • 1540, Thomas [Cranmer], “A Prologue or Preface Made by the Most Reuerende Father in God, Thomas Archbyshop of Cantorbury, Metropolytan and Prymate of Englande”, in The Byble in Englishe, that is, The Olde and New Testament, after the Translacion Appoynted to bee Read in the Churches [The Great Bible], London: […] Edwarde Whitchurche, published 31 December 1549 (Gregorian calendar), →OCLC, signature **:

        But ſuche as will perſyſt ſtyll in theyr wylfulneſſe, I muſt nedes iudge not only foliſhe, froward and obstynate: but also peuiſhe, peruerſe and indurate.

      • 1589, T[homas] Nashe, The Anatomie of Absurditie: […], London: […] I[ohn] Charlewood for Thomas Hacket, […], →OCLC, signature E.ii., recto:

        Nothing is ſo great an enemie to a ſounde iudgment, as the pride of a péeuiſh conceit, which cauſeth a man both in life and beliefe, either to ſnatch vppe or hatch newfangles.

      • 1650, Thomas Fuller, “The Wilderness of Paran”, in A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the Confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament Acted thereon, London: […] J. F. for John Williams […], →OCLC, book IV, paragraph 3, page 44:

        But, the main end for vvhich this deſert may ſeem ordained, vvas, that therein God and the Iſraelites might for forty years mutually prove one another. And upon triall, they appeared a peeviſh, frovvard, ſtubborn people.

   6. Out of one's mind; mad. [16th c.]
      • 1523, John Skelton, “A Ryght Delectable Tratyse vpon a Goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell, […]”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC, page 372, lines 264–266:

        The dredfull dinne droue all the rowte on a rowe; / Some tremblid, some girnid, some gaspid, some gasid, / As people halfe peuysshe, or men that were masyd.

      • 1549 February 10 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1548), Erasmus, “The Actes of the Apostles. The .xii. Chapter.”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., The First Tome or Volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente, London: […] Edwarde Whitchurche, →OCLC, folio xlvii, recto:

        And whan Peter knocked at the wicket of the gate whyche was towardes the ſtreate ſyde, a lytle mayden came foorthe ſoftely to harken what the matter was. Her name was Rhoda. Whome Peter perceyuyng to come to the doore, wylled her ſpedely to open the doore. Whan ſhe heard Peters voice, beeying halfe amaſed for ſoddayn ioye, did not open the doore, but runnyng backe agayne into the houſe, broughte them woorde that Peter was at the doore. But they beeyng well aſſured howe ſafe Herode [Agrippa] had cauſed Peter to bee kepte, aunſwered to the mayden, Surely thou arte peuyſhe.

        A paraphrase of Acts 12:13–15.

      • c. 1588 (date written; published 1591), [John Lyly], Endimion, the Man in the Moone. […], London: […] I[ohn] Charlewood, for the widdowe Broome, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, signature B, recto:

        There vvas neuer any ſo peeuiſh to imagin the Moone eyther capable of affection, or ſhape of a Miſtris: […]

   7. Of a thing: evoking a feeling of distaste, horror, etc. [16th c.]
      • 1563 (date written), Thomas Bec[c]on, “[A Comparison between the Lords Supper and the Popish Masse]”, in The Displaying of the Popish Masse: […], London: […] A[nne] G[riffin] for the Company of Stationers, published 1637, →OCLC, page 299:

        The Lords Supper and your peeviſh, popiſh private maſſe doe agree together like God and the divell, Chriſt and Beliall, light and darkneſſe, truth and falſehood, […]

   8. (Northern England) Clever, skilful. [17th–18th c.]
      • [1710, [Thomas Ruddiman], “[A Glossary or Alphabetical Explanation of the Hard and Difficult Words in Gavin Douglas’s Translation of Virgil’s Æneis.] Peuis.”, in Virgil, translated by Gawin Douglas [i.e., Gavin Douglas], Virgil’s Æneis, Translated into Scottish Verse, […], new edition, Edinburgh: […] Mr. Andrew Symson, and Mr. Robert Freebairn, […], →OCLC, [signature N2, verso], column 1:

        The word peeviſh among the vulgar of Scotland is uſed for niggardly, covetous; in the North of England, for vvitty, ſubtile.]

Usage notes

In early uses, it is often difficult to determine which sense of the word is intended.^[2]

Alternative forms

• pevish (obsolete)
• pievish (obsolete, 16th–17th c.)

Derived terms

• impeevish (obsolete)
• impeevished (obsolete)
• peeve
• peevishly
• peevishness
• unpeevish

 

Translations

constantly complaining, especially in a childish way due to insignificant matters

Bulgarian: капризен (bg) (kaprizen), сърдит (bg) (sǎrdit) Dutch: zeurderig (nl) Finnish: mariseva French: geignard (fr), maussade (fr) German: gereizt (de), mürrisch (de), quengelig, verdrießlich (de), verdrossen (de) Hungarian: durcás (hu), nyűgös (hu) Irish: aingí, cantalach Italian: irritabile (it), scontroso (it) m Latin: morosus Macedonian: раздразлив (razdrazliv) Old English: gnorn Russian: сварли́вый (ru) (svarlívyj), ворчли́вый (ru) (vorčlívyj) Scottish Gaelic: crosta, dranndanach, gearanach, gruamach Spanish: alaraco (es), alharaquiento (es), malhumorado (es), quejica (es), quejicoso (es) Ukrainian: please add this translation if you can

quick to become bad-tempered or cross, especially due to insignificant matters — see irritable,‎ petulant

Adverb

peevish (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Synonym of peevishly (“in a peevish manner: whiningly; irritably, petulantly; etc.”)
   • c. 1517 (date written; published c. 1545), John Skelton, “Here after Foloweth the Booke Called Elynour Rummynge. The Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng per Skelton Laureat.”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC, page 114, lines 588–589:

     She was not halfe so wyse / As she was peuysshe nyse.

     That is, foolishly particular.

   • c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], signature K3, verso:

     Be the atturney of my loue to her. / Pleade vvhat I vvill be, not vvhat I haue bene, / Not by deſertes, but vvhat I vvill deſerue, / Vrge the neceſſitie and ſtate of times, / And be not pieuiſh, fond in great deſignes.

     Perhaps to be understood as “peevishly fond”. Spelled peeuiſh in the First Folio (1623), page 198, column 2.

References

1. “peivish, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
2. “peevish, adj. and adv.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2024; “peevish, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading

• “† peevish, adj.”, in The Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present, →OCLC, reproduced from W[illiam] Grant and D[avid] D. Murison, editors, The Scottish National Dictionary, Edinburgh: Scottish National Dictionary Association, 1931–1976, →OCLC.