Comparative form of 'chilly,' meaning colder in temperature, or more unfriendly or unfavorable in manner or atmosphere.
From 'chilly' plus the comparative suffix '-er.' 'Chilly' itself comes from 'chill,' with the '-y' suffix making it an adjective meaning 'somewhat cold' or 'tending to chill.'
In English, we have 'chilly,' 'chillier,' and 'chilliest'—three ways to say increasing levels of cold! But we also use 'chillier' metaphorically for unfriendly atmospheres, showing how we map physical sensations onto emotions.
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