Morose, sour-tempered, or gloomy in manner or disposition; inclined to be silent and ill-humored.
Origin uncertain; possibly related to Old English or Germanic roots meaning 'to growl' or 'to murmur.' The word may have connections to Middle English grimness, evolving to describe the temperament of someone withdrawn and displeased.
The word 'grum' is a wonderful British English relic that captures a specific type of grumpiness—it's not just being irritable, but being morose and withdrawn about it. You'll see it pop up in literature from the 1600s-1800s to describe characters who are distinctly unfriendly and prefer silence to conversation.
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