waspish (WOS-pish) adjective

   1. Like a wasp, in behavior (stinging) or in form (slender build).

   2. Easily annoyed; irascible; petulant.

[From wasp, from Middle English waspe, from Old English waesp, from waeps.]

   "His occasionally waspish sense of humour always derided pomposity and
   self-regard."
   Sue Harper, Obituary: Robert Gray: He Unravelled the Links Between Class
   and Language, The Guardian (London), Apr 26, 2001.

This week's theme: animal words.

............................................................................
Why is it that we rejoice at a birth and grieve at a funeral? It is because
we are not the person involved. -Mark Twain, author and humorist
(1835-1910)

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Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/waspish.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/waspish.ram