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Surly manner
Answer for the clue "Surly manner ", 9 letters:
gruffness
Alternative clues for the word gruffness
Word definitions for gruffness in dictionaries
Wiktionary
Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. The characteristic or quality of being gruff
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Gruff \Gruff\ (gr[u^]f), a. [Compar. Gruffer (gr[u^]f"[~e]r); superl. Gruffest .] [D. grof; akin to G. grob, OHG. gerob, grob, Dan. grov, Sw. grof, perh. akin to AS. rc['o]fan to break, Z. reavc, rupture, g- standing for the AS. prefix ge-, Goth. ga-.] ...
WordNet
Word definitions in WordNet
n. a throaty harshness [syn: hoarseness , huskiness ] an abrupt discourteous manner [syn: abruptness , brusqueness , curtness , shortness ]
Usage examples of gruffness.
Despite his show of gruffness, he too was moved by the plight of the children.
Behind the gruffness and stern air of authority he was kind and good, with a fondness for riddles and a love of song.
There was a gruffness in the invitation which under ordinary circumstances would have repelled a visitor.
The Carolinian lilt of his voice was incongru-ent with the gruffness of his words.
Miss Howard blinked, and a new note crept into the gruffness of her voice.
His gruffness had unnerved her at first, but she was beginning to see that some of it was due to his understandable bitterness over his situation and some of it was just a means of playing tough.
Drapper had watched his friend grow from a gangly child to a strong man, hiding his soft heart behind bluster and gruffness, he also knew that Mathew had a soft spot in his heart for Mary and wondered if the two had argued.