Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Crabbed

Crab′bed

(kr?b′b?d)
,
Adj.
[See
Crab
,
Noun.
]
1.
Characterized by or manifesting, sourness, peevishness, or moroseness; harsh; cross; cynical; – applied to feelings, disposition, or manners.
Crabbed
age and youth can not live together.
Shakespeare
2.
Characterized by harshness or roughness; unpleasant; – applied to things;
as, a
crabbed
taste
.
3.
Obscure; difficult; perplexing; trying;
as, a
crabbed
author
.
Crabbed eloquence.”
Chaucer.
How charming is divine philosophy!
Not harsh and
crabbed
, as dull fools suppose.
Milton.
Crab′bed-ly
,
adv.
Crab′bed-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Crabbed

CRABBED

,
Adj.
[from crab.]
1.
Rough; harsh; austere; sour; peevish; morose; cynical; applied to the temper.
2.
Rough; harsh; applied to things.
3.
Difficult; perplexing; as a crabbed author or subject.

Definition 2024


crabbed

crabbed

English

Adjective

crabbed (comparative more crabbed, superlative most crabbed)

  1. Bad-tempered or cantankerous.
  2. Cramped, bent.
    • 1800(?) Robert Southey, Winter
      A wrinkled crabbed man they picture thee,
      Old Winter, with a rugged beard as grey
      As the long moss upon the apple-tree;
  3. (of handwriting) Crowded together and difficult to read.

Translations

Derived terms

Verb

crabbed

  1. simple past tense and past participle of crab