Fractiously

/ˈfrækʃəsli/ adverb

Definition

in an irritable, quarrelsome, or bad-tempered manner; expressing or showing peevish irritation.

Etymology

From fractious (adjective) + -ly (adverb suffix). Fractious comes from Latin fractus (broken, irritable) and suggests a 'broken' or disrupted state of temper.

Kelly Says

Fractious and fraction share the same Latin root fractus (broken), but fractious means a broken temperament while fraction means a broken quantity—etymology reveals two types of breaking.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.