hoary

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair; -Coleridge
  2. adjective ancient
  3. adjective covered with fine whitish hairs or down

Etymology

Possibly from Middle English *hori (suggested by horilocket (“hoary-locked, having hoary locks or curls”)), equivalent to hoar + -y. Alternatively, Middle English horilocket may represent Middle English hor (“hoar, hoary”) + ilocket (“locked”) rather than hori (“hoary”) + locket (“locked”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

grey, gray, grey-haired, gray-haired, grey-headed, gray-headed, grizzly, hoar, white-haired

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