Nasty
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
nasty¹
- /ˈnaː.sti/ Australia
- /ˈnɑː.sti/ UK
- /ˈnæs.ti/ US
Rhymes with -ɑːsti, -æsti
Where it comes from
From Middle English nasty, nasti, naxty, naxte (“unclean, filthy”), whence also Early Modern English nasky (“nasty”), of obscure origin. Probably from earlier Middle English *naskty, *naskedy, from Middle English *nasked (“dirty, messy”) + -y, ultimately of North Germanic origin (comparable to Danish nasket (“dirty, foul, unpleasant”), Swedish naskot (“dirty, filthy”), Swedish naskig, naskug (“nasty, dirty, messy”)), themselves all probably related to Proto-Germanic *hnaskuz (“tender, soft”). Likely doublet of nesh and nosh. Cognate with Scots nastie, nestie (“dirty, filthy”).
Alternative theories have also been proposed, which include:
* From Low German nask (“nasty”) + -y.
* Middle Dutch nestich, nistich ("nasty, dirty, unpleasant" > Modern Dutch nestig (“dirty, filthy, unclean; lazy, cranky”)), perhaps ultimately connected to the Scandinavian word above, or related to *nest (“nest”).
* From Old French nastre (“lowly, strange”), shortened form of villenastre (“infamous, bad”), from vilein (“villain”) + -astre (pejorative suffix), from Latin -aster.
* Other suggestions include Old High German naz (“wet”), hardening of English nesh(y) (“soft”), or alteration of English naughty.
* Modern use of the word is sometimes attributed to the popular and often derogatory 19th century American political cartoons of Thomas Nast, but the word predates him.
adjective nastier · nastiest
- Dirty, filthy. In such condition, there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by Sea; no commodious Building; no Instruments of moving, and removing such things as require much force
- Contemptible, unpleasant (of a person). Jonathan kept staring at him, till I was afraid he would notice. I feared he might take it ill, he looked so fierce and nasty.
- Objectionable, unpleasant (of a thing); repellent, offensive. ‘It's a nasty trade,’ said Mr. Limbkins, when Gamfield had again stated his wish.
- Indecent or offensive; obscene, lewd. He said to Mr. Tallboy he thought the headline was a bit hot. And Mr. Tallboy said he had a nasty mind.
- Spiteful, unkind. She had said: "I love the block button on Twitter. I don't know how people expect to send a nasty comment and not get blocked."
- Awkward, difficult to navigate; dangerous. There was a nasty period during the First World War when the family's allegiance was called into question - not least because one of the Schroders had been made a baron by the Kaiser.
- Grave or dangerous (of an accident, illness etc.). Moving into the middle ages, William the Conqueror managed to rout the English and rule the country, then see off numerous plots and assassination attempts, before his horse did for him in a nasty fall, killing him at 60.
- Formidable, terrific; wicked. "Well," she grinned, looking hot and sexy. "They say you doing some real nasty shit in the NBA, but on the mic you a little too competitive. They say you a gaming niggah who likes to keep up all kinds of go-to-war gangsta friction between rappers. That shit must work for you though, huh? You stickin
Similar: beastly
noun nasties
- Something nasty. Processed foods are full of aspartame and other nasties.
- Sexual intercourse.
- A video nasty. In this way, it is hoped that the nasties will be dealt with, and the remainder regularized.
verb nasties · nastying · nastied
- To besmirch, to befoul. But you was at much trouble, I should think, in taking care of the Doctor's fish, in gutting and cleaning them, wetting and nastying yourself with them.
Nasty²
Where it comes from
From Old English æt þæm eastan hæge (“at the eastern hedged enclosure”).
proper noun
- A hamlet in Great Munden parish, East Hertfordshire district, Hertfordshire, England (OS grid ref TL3524).
