peyvesshe

perverse, capricious, silly

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A diner repeatedly fusses over harmless table-setting details: first a slightly crooked napkin, then the position of a teaspoon, while the server patiently adjusts them.

adjective

peevish

PEE-vish/ˈpiːvɪʃ/

Easily annoyed and inclined to complain.

Etymology

peevishMiddle Englishperverse, capricious, silly

Middle English peyvesshe described someone perverse, capricious, or silly. The meaning shifted toward a cross, fretful temperament—the irritability now expressed by peevish.

Full entry

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peevish