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Examples

  • Hardcastle, that was here awhile ago, in this obstropalous manner.

    She Stoops to Conquer 2004

  • I want no such acquaintance, not I. I’m sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle, that was here awhile ago, in this obstropalous manner.

    Act the Third 1909

  • I'm sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle, that was here awhile ago, in this obstropalous manner.

    She Stoops to Conquer Oliver Goldsmith 1752

Comments

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  • " I’m sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle, that was here awhile ago, in this obstropalous manner. "

    Goldsmith, She Stoops, III

    January 11, 2007

  • What does obstropalous mean? Please leave a comment if you know the meaning of this word. I need the answer for a report in college. I need the answer by Thursday.

    Thank you for your help in advance.

    October 7, 2009

  • I'm struggling to find any occurrence of it beyond the citation listed below. There, it appears to be either a quaint archaic variant of or a malapropism of obstreperous.

    October 7, 2009

  • It's a thousand pities she can't keep on goin' to school," said Mrs. Jones; "if 'twarn't for the trouble of lookin' arter her, I wouldn't mind givin' her her wittles, but such gals is so obstropalous."

    --Mrs. E. Little, 1846, "Riches without Wings", The Ladies' Wreath 1: 309

    October 7, 2009

  • Satinna, you'll find it listed under obstropolous in OED2. It's also defined in A Supplementary English Glossary by T. Lewis and O. Davies (1881).

    October 7, 2009