sulky

The definition of sulky is someone or something that is gloomy or withdrawn.

(adjective)

An example of sulky is the sad look on a dog's face after it's been scolded for getting into the trash.

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See sulky in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective sulkier, sulkiest

  1. showing resentment or dissatisfaction by petulant or peevish withdrawal
  2. gloomy; dismal; sullen: a sulky day

Origin: prob. < OE -solcen (in comp.), idle, sluggish, pp. of -seolcan, to become slack < IE base *selĝ-, to let go, let loose > Sans sarjati, (he) releases

noun pl. sulkies

a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage having a seat for only one person, esp. now, one used in harness races

Origin: prob. < sulkythe , in the sense of keeping aloof, because the vehicle seats only one person

Related Forms:

See sulky in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective sulk·i·er, sulk·i·est
  1. Sullenly aloof or withdrawn.
  2. Gloomy; dismal: sulky weather.

Origin:

Origin: Perhaps alteration of obsolete sulke, sluggish

Origin: , perhaps ultimately from Old English āsolcen

Origin: , from past participle of āseolcan, to become sluggish

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Related Forms:

  • sulkˈi·ly adverb
  • sulkˈi·ness noun

noun pl. sulk·ies
A light, open two-wheeled vehicle accommodating only the driver and drawn by one horse, used especially in harness racing.

Origin:

Origin: From sulky1 (from its having only one seat)

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