fractious, a.
(ˈfrækʃəs)
[f. fraction (sense 3), after captious, etc.
The original sense seems to have been ‘disposed to make breaches, factious’; the more trivial use now current may be due to association with fratch.]
Refractory, unruly; now chiefly, cross, fretful, peevish; esp. of children.
| 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 353 Having had an account how mutinous and fractious they had been. 1776 Foote Capuchin iii. Wks. 1799 II. 399 The young slut is so headstrong and fractious. 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. II. 30 A terrible peevish fractious fellow. 1847 Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole lxi. (1879) 510 Baby would be getting so very fractious. 1857 Buckle Civilisation vii. 402 The fractious and disloyal conduct of many of the hierarchy. 1880 L. Wallace Ben-Hur ix. 46 Men struggling doubtfully with fractious cows and frightened sheep. |
| transf. 1821 Coleridge in Blackw. Mag. X. 261 The fractious noise of the dashing of a lake on its border. |
Hence
ˈfractiously adv.;
ˈfractiousness.
| 1727 Bailey vol. II, Fractiousness. 1736 ― (folio), Fractiously. 1753 J. Collier Art Torment. 159 She will..ask your pardon..for having indulged your own fractiousness. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 54 The treason of Russell is to be attributed partly to fractiousness. 1858 Polson Law & L. 99 His fractiousness, and his want of patience. 1878 Mrs. H. Wood Pomeroy Ab. (ed. 3) 122 ‘How stupid you are, Bridget!’ she fractiously said. |