tetrical, a. Obs. or arch.
(ˈtɛtrɪkəl)
[f. as tetric a.1 + -al1: see -ical.]
Austere, severe, harsh, bitter, morose.
| a 1529 Skelton Replic. Wks. 1843 I. 209 Touching the tetrycall theologisacioun of these demy diuines, and Stoicall studiantes. 1627–77 Feltham Resolves i. viii. 11 It is not good to be too tetrical and virulent. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Tetrical, rude, rough, unpleasant, sower, crabbish, hard to relish. 1772 Nugent tr. Hist. Fr. Gerund II. 81 Some so tetrical, so cross-grained, and of so corrupt a taste. 1901 M. Hume Span. People 488 He had none of the forbidding, tetrical Spanish form of devotion. |
Hence ˈtetricalness, the quality of being tetrical.
| 1653 Gauden Hierasp. 170 It requires..diligence..to contend with younger ignorance, and elder obstinacy, and aged tetricalness. |