shrewishness

[Eng.shrewish; -ne .] The quality or state of being shrewish. some herbs." -Jones, of Maryland: Works , ii. 289. fate, făt, färe, amidst, what, fall, father; we, wět, here, camel, her, there; "I have no gift at all in shrewishne ." Shakesp.: Midsummer Night's Dream, iii. 2. *shrich, *shriegh, v. [SHRIEK, V.] pine, pit, sire, sir, marine; gō, pot, shriek shriek. *scriek, *scrike, *shrike, v. i. & t. [A doublet of screech (q. v.).] A. Intransitive : To utter a sharp, shrill cry; to scream, as one in a sudden fright, horror, or anguish. "And pour these accents, shrieking as he flies." Byron: Nisus and Euryalus . B. Trans.: To utter with a shriek or shrill cry. "Shrieking undistinguished woe." Shakesp.: Lover's Complaint, 20. shriek, s . [SHRIEK, verb .) A sharp, shrill cry or scream, as of one in anguish or extreme terror; a shrill noise. "The shrieks of the conquer'd, the conquerors' yell." Byron: Childe Harold , ii. 72. shriek-owl, s. The Screech-owl (q. v.). shriēk'-ēr, subst. [Eng. shriek; -er.] One who shrieks. "Again-the shrieking charmers-how they rend The gentle air-the shriekers lack a friend." Crabbe: Tales of the Hall , vii. shriēv-al, a. [Mid.Eng.shrieve=a sheriff; -al .] Of or pertaining to a sheriff. "His shrieval sword, and his richly bejeweled chain of office."-Citizen, Jan. 9, 1886.