different between icy vs callous

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 Latin call?sus (“hard-skinned”), from callum (“hardened skin”) + -?sus.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?kæl?s/
• Rhymes: -æl?s
• Homophone: callus

Adjective

callous (comparative more callous, superlative most callous)

1. Emotionally hardened; unfeeling and indifferent to the suffering/feelings of others.

   She was so callous that she could criticise a cancer patient for wearing a wig.

2. Having calluses.

Synonyms

• heartless
• insensitive

Related terms

• calloused
• callus

Translations

Noun

callous (plural callouses)

1. Alternative form of callus