Grumpily

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that reflects a sour or irritable disposition
2. Done in a way that shows a person is easily annoyed or displeased
3. Expressed with a mood that is sulky or irritable

Etymology: "Grumpily" is a plain formation: the adjective "grumpy" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" attached. The "-ly" ending traces back through Middle English "-ly" and Old English "-līċe" to a Proto-Germanic suffix meaning "like" or "in the manner of", so the word literally means "in a grumpy manner." "Grumpy" itself is the older part, built from "grump" with the "-y" suffix, which in English makes adjectives meaning "characterised by" or "having the quality of" something. The "grump" element is a word for a sulky, ill-tempered mood, and its exact origin is uncertain, though it appears to be imitative of the low, grudging sound a person makes when displeased. Its sense of an irritable or sulky mood sits at the centre of the adverb's meaning.

Synonyms: grumpily, irritably

Antonyms: cheerfully