SHRILLY

shrilly, piercingly

(adverb) in a shrill voice; “she sang rather shrilly”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Adverb

shrilly (comparative more shrilly, superlative most shrilly)

In a shrill manner.

Etymology 2

Adjective

shrilly (comparative more shrilly, superlative most shrilly)

Somewhat shrill.

Source: Wiktionary


Shril"ly, adv.

Definition: In a shrill manner; acutely; with a sharp sound or voice.

Shril"ly, a.

Definition: Somewhat shrill. [Poetic] Sir W. Scott. Some kept up a shrilly mellow sound. Keats.

SHRILL

Shrill, a. [Compar. Shriller; superl. Shrillest.] Etym: [OE. shril, schril; akin to LG. schrell, G. schrill. See Shrill,v. i.]

Definition: Acute; sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing tone or sound; -- said a sound, or of that which produces a sound. Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give To sounds confused. Shak. Let winds be shrill, let waves roll high. Byron.

Shrill, n.

Definition: A shrill sound. [Obs.] Spenser.

Shrill, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shrilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrilling.] Etym: [OE. schrillen, akin to G. schrillen; cf. AS. scralletan to resound loudly, Icel. skrölta to jolt, Sw. skrälla to shrill, Norw. skryla, skr. Cf. Skirl.]

Definition: To utter an acute, piercing sound; to sound with a sharp, shrill tone; to become shrill. Break we our pipes, that shrilledloud as lark. Spenser. No sounds were heard but of the shrilling cock. Goldsmith. His voice shrilled with passion. L. Wallace.

Shrill, v. t.

Definition: To utter or express in a shrill tone; to cause to make a shrill sound. How poor Andromache shrills her dolors forth. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

22 January 2025

MEGALITH

(noun) memorial consisting of a very large stone forming part of a prehistoric structure (especially in western Europe)


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.

coffee icon