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Webster 1913 Edition


Querulous

Quer′u-lous

,
Adj.
[L.
querulus
and
querulosus
, fr.
queri
to complain. Cf.
Cry
,
Verb.
,
Quarrel
a brawl,
Quarrelous
.]
1.
Given to quarreling; quarrelsome.
[Obs.]
land.
2.
Apt to find fault; habitually complaining; disposed to murmur;
as, a
querulous
man or people
.
Enmity can hardly be more annoying that
querulous
, jealous, exacting fondness.
Macaulay.
3.
Expressing complaint; fretful; whining;
as, a
querulous
tone of voice
.
Syn. – Complaining; bewailing; lamenting; whining; mourning; murmuring; discontented; dissatisfied.
Quer′u-lous-ly
,
adv.
Quer′u-lous-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Querulous

QUER'ULOUS

,
Adj.
[L. querulus, from queror, to complain. See Quarrel.]
1.
Complaining or habitually complaining; disposed to murmur; as a querulous man or people.
2.
Expressing complaint; as a querulous tone of voice.

Definition 2024


querulous

querulous

English

Adjective

querulous (comparative more querulous, superlative most querulous)

  1. Often complaining; suggesting a complaint in expression; fretful, whining.
    • 1877, Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet
      "There are no crimes and no criminals in these days," he said, querulously. "What is the use of having brains in our profession. I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous. No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent to the detection of crime which I have done. And what is the result? There is no crime to detect, or, at most, some bungling villainy with a motive so transparent that even a Scotland Yard official can see through it."

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