- Today's Word
Uffishness
[UFF-ish-ness]
Definition
- (adjective) A state of being irritated, annoyed, or out of sorts. It often describes a general feeling of discontent or peevishness, without a specific cause or reason.
Example
After a long day of dealing with difficult customers and a frustrating commute, Martha arrived home in a state of uffishness, ready to snap at anyone who crossed her path.
Fun Fact
The term “uffishness” is believed to have originated from the Scottish dialect word “ouff,” which means to express disgust or disapproval. The suffix “-ish” is added to describe the state or quality of being “ouff,” while “-ness” denotes the overall condition or feeling.
(noun) A burden, duty, or responsibility—especially one that is difficult or unwelcome.
The onus of proving the theory fell on the scientists who proposed it.
From Latin onus, meaning “load” or “burden.”