different between icy vs aloof

English

Alternative forms

• icey (rare)
• ycie (obsolete)

Etymology

ice +? -y; cf. Old English ?si?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?a?si/

Adjective

icy (comparative icier, superlative iciest)

1. Pertaining to, resembling, or abounding in ice; cold; frosty.
2. Covered with ice, wholly or partially.
3. Characterized by coldness of manner; frigid; cold.
   • 2009, Sharon Kendrick, The Desert Princes Bundle: The Sheikh's English Bride

     Gone was the gleam of desire, and the teasingly provocative remarks, and Alexa realised the truth in the saying that indifference was death. His demeanour was haughty and icy towards her.

4. (US, slang) To be wearing an excessive amount of jewelry, especially of the high-quality and expensive kind.

Related terms

• icily
• iciness

Translations

References

• icy in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• icy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• CyI

Middle French

Adverb

icy

1. here

Descendants

• French: ici

English

Etymology

From Middle English loof (“weather gage, windward direction”), probably from Middle Dutch (Compare Dutch loef (“the weather side of a ship”)), originally a nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, thus to stay clear of a lee-shore or some other quarter, hence the figurative sense of "at a distance, apart".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??lu?f/
• Rhymes: -u?f

Adverb

aloof (comparative more aloof, superlative most aloof)

1. At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away.
2. Without sympathy; unfavorably.

Translations

Adjective

aloof (comparative more aloof, superlative most aloof)

1. Reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant; standoffish.

Derived terms

• aloofly
• aloofness

Translations

Preposition

aloof

1. (obsolete) Away from; clear of.

See also

• See also Thesaurus:arrogant

References

Anagrams

• loofa