different between curmudgeon vs grumpy

English

Etymology

Numerous folk etymologies exist for this word.

An alternative spelling attested in 1600 is cornmudgin, in Holland's translation of Livy, rendering Latin fr?ment?rius (“corn-merchant”). This has been suggested as the original form of the word, but OED notes that curmudgeon is attested some years before this, concluding that cornmudgin was merely a nonce-word by Holland.

The word is attested from the late 1500s in the forms curmudgeon and curmudgen, and during the 17th century in numerous spelling variants, including cormogeon, cormogion, cormoggian, cormudgeon, curmudgion, curmuggion, curmudgin, curr-mudgin, curre-megient.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k???m?d?.?n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /k??m?d??n/

Noun

curmudgeon (plural curmudgeons)

1. (archaic) A miser.
2. An ill-tempered person full of stubborn ideas or opinions.

   Synonym: crank

   • 1996, Jeet Heer, Gravitas, Autumn 1996

     After a while, as cultural debates became more polarized, the editorial tone of the New Criterion went from being charmingly curmudgeon to being bitterly shrill.

   • 2006, The New York Times [1]

     How to Be a Curmudgeon on the Internet

   • 2007, The Times [2]

     How should I respond, without appearing to be a curmudgeon?

Derived terms

• curmudgeonly

Translations

English

Etymology

grump +? -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /????mpi/

Adjective

grumpy (comparative grumpier, superlative grumpiest)

1. Dissatisfied and irritable.

   The old man was grumpy because he couldn’t find his glasses.

Synonyms

• cantankerous
• crabby
• cranky
• grouchy
• surly
• truculent
• See also Thesaurus:irritable

Translations