different between unruly vs fractious

English

Etymology

From Middle English unruly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- +? rule +? -ly (compare Middle English ruly, reuli (“subject to a religious rule, regular”)), but also representing a modified continuation of earlier Middle English unrouly, unroly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- +? roolie. The latter is perhaps from or influenced by Old Norse *úróligr, related to Danish urolig (“restless”), Swedish orolig (“restless”), Icelandic órólegur (“agitated”). Compare also Middle English unroo, unro (“unrest”). More at roo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n??u?li/
• Rhymes: -u?li

Adjective

unruly (comparative unrulier, superlative unruliest)

1. Wild; uncontrolled.
   • 2011 Allen Gregory, "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1):

     Richard DeLongpre: Are you okay, my boy angel?

     Allen Gregory DeLongpre: I have a broken heart. And undergarments filled with my own unruly waste.

Translations

English

Etymology

fraction (“discord, (now obsolete)”) +? -ous

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?f?æk.??s/

Adjective

fractious (comparative more fractious, superlative most fractious)

1. Given to troublemaking.
2. Irritable; argumentative; quarrelsome.
   • 1847, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, Smith, Elder & Company, London, page 228,

     …in his present fractious mood, she dared whisper no observations, nor ask of him any information.

Derived terms

• fractiously
• fractiousness

Translations