impishadj.
/ˈɪmpɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈɪmpɪʃ/ Having the characteristics of an imp; pertaining to or characteristic of a little devil or mischievous urchin.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > playful mischievousness > [adjective]
knavish1552
spritish1566
wickeda1616
monkeyish1621
impish1652
mischievous1675
slya1771
nineteda1798
wansonsy1819
Pucklike1845
picklesome1885
monkey-doodle1886
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > fairy or elf > [adjective] > of or relating to imp or goblin
hobgoblin1627
impish1652
impy1845
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [adjective] > playfully or mischievously roguish
pickled1683
pickle1774
hempy1801
impish1834
natkhat1843
puckish1874
gallows1882
gamine1903
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 334 The news of the victory was..carried to Rome by Castor and Pollux..or as others say, by the Impish divels themselves.
1834 W. Beckford Italy; with Sketches Spain & Portugal II. 8 Stimulated by impish children.
1876 T. Hardy Hand of Ethelberta II. xxxi. 291 Teasing and worrying with impish laughter half suppressed.
1884 Lady Verney in Contemp. Rev. Oct. 550 Spiteful, impish tricks.
Derivatives
ˈimpishly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > playful mischievousness > [adverb]
mischievously1730
naughtily1827
slyly1837
impishly1864
sassily1883
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [adverb] > playfully
impishly1864
puckishly1941
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Impishly.
1872 E. Bulwer-Lytton Parisians ix. ii ‘I shall have the wreath yet’, cried [she] impishly.
1897 W. C. Hazlitt Four Generations Lit. Family I. iii. iii. 274 A half-witted fellow..whom the boys..impishly tormented.
ˈimpishness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > playful mischievousness > [noun]
monkeyism1823
monkeyishness1824
sassiness1834
impishness1876
puckishness1900
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [noun] > playful or mischievous roguery
impishness1876
puckery1877
puckishness1900
1876 T. Hardy Hand of Ethelberta II. xli. 155 When scheming any plot of particular neatness, which had less emotion than impishness in it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1652