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



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Word of the Day

24 May 2025

EARTHSHAKING

(adjective) sufficiently significant to affect the whole world; “earthshaking proposals”; “the contest was no world-shaking affair”; “the conversation...could hardly be called world-shattering”


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Coffee Trivia

Plain brewed coffee contains almost no calories, while coffee with dairy products, sugar, and other flavorings is much higher in calories. An espresso has 20 calories. A nonfat latte has 72, while a flavored one has 134.

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