haughty

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy; ; ; ; ; ; ; - W.L.Shirer

Etymology

From earlier hauty, haultic, with spelling change in imitation of English naughty and English high, from Middle English hautein, hautain (with -ein, -ain becoming -y through the form hautenesse standing for *hauteinnesse; see haughtiness), from Middle English haute (“self-important”), from Old French haut, hault (“high, lofty”), from Frankish *hauh, *hōh (“high, lofty, proud”) and Latin altus (“high, deep”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

disdainful, imperious, lordly, overbearing, prideful, sniffy, supercilious, swaggering

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