Crabbish

/kræbɪʃ/ adjective

Definition

Somewhat crabby or irritable; having crab-like qualities.

Etymology

Adjective formed by adding the -ish suffix to 'crab,' a suffix meaning 'somewhat' or 'somewhat like.' Similar formations include 'reddish' and 'childish.'

Kelly Says

The -ish suffix is like English's way of saying 'kind of' or 'sorta'—it makes qualities less extreme, so 'crabbish' means grumpy but not completely crabby, showing how nuance builds meaning.

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