ORNERINESS?

[MalcolmR]

In my broadsheet newspaper crossword today, the word ORNERINESS was one of the solutions.

Cue a great online discussion about whether it is a valid English word., many thinking it's American.

Do you know it?

[mank]

It means ornery.

[MalcolmR]

It is indeed derived from "Ordinary" but I understand it doesn't really mean "normal" but more "plain" and is slightly derogatory.

[Jim]

The Googles

being stubborn
Use the noun orneriness to talk about the quality of being stubborn. You might refuse to babysit a mean and obstinate child again after experiencing his orneriness. When a person is ornery, he refuses to listen to reason and seems willfully determined to do the opposite of what you'd like him to do.

[MalcolmR]

When a person is ornery, he refuses to listen to reason and seems willfully determined to do the opposite of what you'd like him to do.

Ha! I know a bloke who is precisely that.

[Jeannette]

I always took it to mean stubborn or cantankerous. My grandma used it quite a lot.

[graham]

Mar 4, 2024 11:15:30 GMT -5 MalcolmR said:

Do you know it?

I know it from Westerns etc.

I'd define it as "the state of being Ornery" which, from context, has meanings something like "bloody minded, stubborn or contrarian".

[Juli]

'Round here, "ornery" is pronounced "ONry". I haven't heard or used "orneriness" in quite a while, but it's been a few decades since I was around people who used or warranted it's usage.

[mollypop]

Mom sometimes called me that and dad reacted 'negatively'

I use it ALL THE TIME with my Shepherd and Lab - they think it's funny...

- L -