VOOZH about

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/termagant

⇱ termagant - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

termagant

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈtɜːməɡənt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈtɝməgənt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(tûr′mə gənt)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ter•ma•gant /ˈtɜrməgənt/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a violent or brawling woman.

adj. 
  1. violent;
    brawling;
    shrewish.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ter•ma•gant  (tûr′mə gənt),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman.
  2. Literature(cap.) a mythical deity popularly believed in the Middle Ages to be worshiped by the Muslims and introduced into the morality play as a violent, overbearing personage in long robes.

adj. 
  1. violent;
    turbulent;
    brawling;
    shrewish.
  • Middle English Termagaunt, earlier Tervagaunt, alteration of Old French Tervagan name of the imaginary deity 1175–1225
ter′ma•gant•ly, adv. 
    1. shrew, virago, harridan, scold.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
termagant /ˈtɜːməɡənt/ n
  1. a domineering woman; scold
Etymology: 13th Century: from earlier Tervagaunt, from Old French Tervagan, from Italian Trivigante; after an arrogant character in medieval mystery plays who was supposed to be a Muslim deity
'termagant' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!
Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.
Firefox users: use search shortcuts for the fastest search of WordReference.
Copyright © 2026 WordReference.com
Please report any problems.