cantankerous (2009-04-08)

Part of Speech: adjective

Pronunciation: [kæn-'tæng-kêr-ês]

Definition: Quarrelsome, ill-tempered, crotchety, ornery; difficult to handle.

Usage: Even though this word has created its own legitimacy, it is probably used more in colloquial than formal contexts, "Les Cheatham is so cantankerous, he complains about his birthday gifts." But don't forget today's word now also describes things difficult to control: "I've been to three hairstylists and that cantankerous cowlick on my head still won't stay down!"

Suggested Usage: "Cantankerous" has made a move that makes it a legitimate word even though it is of illegitimate origins (see Etymology): a verb "to cantanker" has been extracted that makes it a legitimate word family. Now, it can be said that "cantanker" underlies the adjective, its adverb, "cantankerously" and the noun "cantankerousness" (why not "cantankerosity"?) To cantanker led to "cantankersome" and leaves the door open wide for "cantankerer."

Etymology: "Cantankerous" is a cantankerous word itself. It is most probably the result of play with the word "contentious," balled up with "rancorous" and "cankerous." The same humans that created the rules of grammar that determine the correctness of our speech also police it. Sometimes we allow ourselves to violate the rules of word formation just for a laugh; gongoozler "gawker" and lollygag "piddle around" are a couple of examples. Since we have historically considered Latin an affectation of the upper classes subject to ridicule by those of us below, making these words sound Latinate adds to the humor, e.g. "discombobulate," "humongous."