English

Noun

grudge ‎(plural grudges)

1. (countable) Deep-seated and/or long-term animosity or ill-feeling about something or someone, especially due to a past bad deed or mistreatment.

   to hold a grudge against someone

   to have a grudge against someone

   to bear a grudge against someone

   • 1607, Barnabe Barnes, THE DIVILS CHARTER: A TRAGÆDIE Conteining the Life and Death of Pope Alexander the ſixt, ACTVS. 5, SCÆ. 1:

     Bag. And if I do not my good Lord damme me for it

     I haue an old grudge at him cole black curre,

     He ſhall haue two ſteele bullets ſtrongly charg’d

   • 1879, Henry James, The American, Rinehart, page 288:

     I have never mentioned it to a human creature ; I have kept my grudge to myself. I daresay I have been wicked, but my grudge has grown old with me.

   • 2001, H. Rider Haggard, All Adventure: Child of Storm/a Tale of Three Lions, Essential Library (xLibris), page 274:

     It is towards Saduko that he bears a grudge, for you know, my father, one should never pull a drowning man out of the stream — which is what Saduko did, for had it not been for his treachery, Cetewayo would have sunk beneath the water of Death — especially if it is only to spite a woman who hates him.

Derived terms

• hold a grudge
• have a grudge
• bear a grudge

Related terms

• grudge match

Translations

Verb

grudge ‎(third-person singular simple present grudges, present participle grudging, simple past and past participle grudged)

1. To be unwilling to give or allow (someone something). [from 16th c.]
   • 1608, Henrie Gosson, The Woefull and Lamentable wast and spoile done by a suddaine Fire in S. Edmonds-bury in Suffolke, on Munday the tenth of Aprill. 1608., reprinted by F. Pawsey, Old Butter Market, Ipswich, 1845, page 6:

     Wee shall finde our whole life so necessarily ioyned with sorrow, that we ought rather delight (and take pleasure) in Gods louing chastisements, and admonitions, then any way murmure and grudge at our crosses, or tribulations :

   • 1841, Edmund Burke, The Annual Register, Rivingtons, page 430:

     If we of the central land were to grudge you what is beneficial, and not to compassionate your wants, then wherewithal could you foreigners manage to exist?

   • 1869, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Army Life in a Black Regiment, Fields, Osgood, & Co., p. 62 :

     Of course, his interest in the war and in the regiment was unbounded; he did not take to drill with especial readiness, but he was insatiable of it, and grudged every moment of relaxation.

   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses, Episode 12, The Cyclops

     Our two inimitable drolls did a roaring trade with their broadsheets among lovers of the comedy element and nobody who has a corner in his heart for real Irish fun without vulgarity will grudge them their hardearned pennies.

   • 1953, Saul Bellow, The Adventures of Augie March, Viking Press, 1953, chapter 3:

     I've never seen such people for borrowing and lending; there was dough changing hands in all directions, and nobody grudged anyone.

2. (obsolete) To grumble, complain; to be dissatisfied. [15th-18th c.]
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Luke XV:

     And the pharises, and scribes grudged sainge: He receaveth to his company synners [...].

3. (obsolete) To hold or harbour with malicious disposition or purpose; to cherish enviously.
   • Shakespeare

     Perish they / That grudge one thought against your majesty!

4. (obsolete) To feel compunction or grief.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Fisher to this entry?)

Related terms

• begrudge
• grudgery

Derived terms

• grudgingly

Translations

References

1. ↑ “grudge” in An American Dictionary of the English Language, by Noah Webster, 1828.

Anagrams

• rugged