sourishadj.
/ˈsaʊərɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈsaʊərɪʃ/ Somewhat sour, in various senses:figurative.1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (Rev. xii. 12) Grosse, troubled, brackish, and sowrish doctrine.in combination.1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede II. ii. xvii. 11 I believe he meant right at bottom; but..he was sourish-tempered.
a. Of things, taste, or smell.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective]
sourc1000
sourish1398
acetosea1400
eagerc1405
acetous?a1425
crabbed1565
sharpish1589
unsugared1592
flatten1594
Amerine1601
acetosous1605
acerba1616
acid1626
acidulous1674
salso-acid1697
acescent1707
sugarless1785
acidulent1800
blink1883
brut1891
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fetor > [adjective] > of a smell: bad
sourc1340
sourish1398
unclean?1440
rankish1495
rank1570
penetrating?1576
quick1578
musk cat1609
acute1620
loud1641
nauseous1649
loud-flavoured1866
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xvii. xii Wormod is ful scharpe herbe, hote and druye, ful sourische & bitter.
1477 T. Norton Ordinall of Alchimy v, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 74 And so is Sowerish tast called Sapor Pontick.
1598 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 3 Last Bks. v. ii. 68 When pleasing Bourdeaux fals vnto his lott, Some sowrish Rochell cuts thy thirsting throte.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 82 They have a kind of bread brownish and sowrish, and made with aniseeds.
1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner i. iii. xiv. 142 The bad Qualities of Plums, are..to have their Pulp tough, mealy, and doughy,..or sharp and sowrish.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Cider If it be only a little sowerish.
1807 T. Thomson Syst. Chem. (ed. 3) II. 268 Muriatic acid is to be added, with constant stirring,..till the mass tastes a little sourish.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. I. 30/1 The sap above referred to is of a sourish taste.
1884 J. Burroughs Pepacton 173 Not so dry, and having a sourish smell.
b. Of persons (or animals), temper, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill-naturedness > sourness or bitterness of temper > [adjective]
bitter?c1225
sour?c1225
envenomedc1375
envenomousa1420
crabbed1565
gallish1595
verjuice1598
vinegar-tart1599
soury1647
acrid1681
acrious1682
sourish1688
embittered1694
subacid1760
verjuiced1836
acidulent1837
vinaigrous1837
vinegar1847
vinegary1847
soured1848
acerbic1853
acidulous1865
acerbate1869
acerbitous1870
snake-headed1920
sour-pussed1952
1688 London Gaz. No. 2328/4 A Dapple grey Gelding,..a sowrish Head, a little hollow backt.
1792 in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1861) II. 450 His own sourish disposition being naturally much heightened by such horrid doings.
1889 H. Johnston Chron. Glenbuckie xii. 145 A worthy, albeit a sourish person.
1897 Daily News 19 Oct. 6/1 A lovable fellow in contrast with the narrow, sourish northerner.
Derivatives
ˈsourishly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill-naturedness > sourness or bitterness of temper > [adverb]
tartlyc1000
sour?a1513
sourlya1533
crabbedly1574
acridlya1750
acrimoniously1753
acerbly1793
tartishly1823
sourishly1846
acidulously1889
vinegarishly1890
1846 W. S. Landor Citation & Exam. Shakespere in Wks. II. 266 Master Silas..looked sourishly, and cried aloud.
ˈsourishness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [noun]
sharpnessc1000
sournessc1050
sourheada1400
eagerness?a1425
verdure1508
tartness1530
acetosity1599
acidity1615
sourfulness1617
tetricity1623
tetritude1656
tartarousness1657
acidness1660
sourishness1670
fieriness1675
acescency1756
1670 W. Simpson Hydrol. Ess. 81 I haue tasted one near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, which hath a very strong sowrishness.
1719 G. London & H. Wise J. de la Quintinie's Compl. Gard'ner (ed. 7) 66 'Tis very juicy, and has a smack of Sowrishness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1398