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GRUFF
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I. (adjective)
Comparative and superlative
Comparative: gruffer
Superlative: gruffest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
Example:
makes all the instruments sound powerful but husky
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Similar:
cacophonic; cacophonous (having an unpleasant sound)
Derivation:
gruffness (a throaty harshness)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Brusque and surly and forbidding
Example:
a gruff reply
Synonyms:
crusty; curmudgeonly; gruff; ill-humored; ill-humoured
Classified under:
Similar:
ill-natured (having an irritable and unpleasant disposition)
Derivation:
gruffness (an abrupt discourteous manner)
Context examples:
Well, I’ve a conscience, sir, and when I chanced to see you go into this house, as I came hobbling after you, I thought to myself, I’ll just step in and see that kind gentleman, and tell him that if I was a bit gruff in my manner there was not any harm meant, and that I am much obliged to him for picking up my books.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"Thank you, ma'am," said a gruff voice behind her, and there, to her great dismay, stood old Mr. Laurence.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Mr. Larkins (a gruff old gentleman with a double chin, and one of his eyes immovable in his head) is fraught with interest to me.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The gruff tones of Hugo's voice, with an occasional shout when his feelings overcame him, were very impressive, and the audience applauded the moment he paused for breath.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
If you will believe me, she went and knocked at the study door before she gave herself time to think, and when a gruff voice called out, come in! she did go in, right up to Mr. Laurence, who looked quite taken aback, and held out her hand, saying, with only a small quaver in her voice, I came to thank you, sir, for...
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Simultaneously I heard his voice, gruff, muffled, husky, at the hall telephone.
(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
His speaking voice, a gruff husky tenor, added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed. There was a touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward people he liked—and there were men at New Haven who had hated his guts.
(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
