Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The quality of being irascible; irritability of temper.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of being irascible; irritability of temper; irascibleness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The quality of being irascible; irritability of temper.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a feeling of resentful anger

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Now long-continued anger, and frequent giving way to it, produces an evil disposition of soul, which people call irascibility, and which ends in passionateness, bitterness, and peevishness, whenever the mind becomes sore and vexed at trifles and querulous at everyday occurrences, like iron thin and beaten out too fine.

    Plutarch's Morals 46-120? Plutarch

  • Usually we can count on the irascible Democratic Congressman Jim Moran (VA-8) for entertainment whenever he decides to open his mouth, but this time the irascibility was a tag-team effort with his wife LuAnn Bennett who both caused a scene on Inauguration Day at the Capitol.

    Waldo's Virginia Political Blogroll 2009

  • The two young gentlemen, having seen their blooming charges safely within the door of the Alms-House, and vainly endeavored to look through the keyhole at them going up-stairs, scuffle away together with that sensation of blended imbecility and irascibility which is equally characteristic of callow youth and inexperienced Thomas Cats when retiring together from the society of female friends who seem to be still on the fence as regards their ultimate preferences.

    Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 14, July 2, 1870 Various

  • Cxiu sur la sxipeto ridetis, cxar la koleremo ( "irascibility") estas cxiam amuza.

    A Complete Grammar of Esperanto Ivy Kellerman Reed 1922

  • Drusus, despite certain defects, such as irascibility and a marked fondness for pleasure, gave evidence that he possessed the requisite qualities of a statesman -- firmness, sound judgment, and energy.

    The Women of the Caesars Guglielmo Ferrero 1906

  • Drusus, despite certain defects, such as irascibility and a marked fondness for pleasure, gave evidence that he possessed the requisite qualities of a statesman ” firmness, sound judgment, and energy.

    The Women of the Caesars Ferrero, Guglielmo, 1871-1942 1911

  • Afterwards he spent time among those friends who could tolerate his irascibility, the number of whom dwindled as a result of his sometimes outrageous behavior.

    william hazlitt | the man of letters « poetry dispatch & other notes from the underground 2009

  • Charlotte Hayes was around Revel's age, and was turning away from the irascibility of her youth into the cantankerousness of middle age.

    Fishers of Hope J. E. Cammon 2011

  • The stress of Smith's job, especially dealing with the rival egos of Eisenhower's army group and army commanders — to say nothing of the constant political interference from Churchill — contributed to his irascibility and ulcers.

    Eisenhower's Pit Bull Antony Beevor 2010

  • Afterwards he spent time among those friends who could tolerate his irascibility, the number of whom dwindled as a result of his sometimes outrageous behavior.

    March « 2009 « poetry dispatch & other notes from the underground 2009

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