Definitions
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The state or quality of being gruff.
Wiktionary
- n. The characteristic or quality of being gruff
WordNet 3.0
- n. an abrupt discourteous manner
- n. a throaty harshness
Examples
“A mask of gruffness is as characteristic of a Scotchman as is a/[Page lxvi]/veneer of politeness of a Frenchman.”
“Sachs sometimes thought that his gruffness was a means to shelter himself from the emotional dangers of police work.”
More Twisted Stories Vol II
“But the gruffness was a bit tremulous and there were tears in the man's voice.”
“Perhaps the captain missed the companionship of the stout lady he had parted from at Charing Cross, or it might be that his gruffness was a matter of habit -- at any rate, after a puff or two, he spoke to Royson again.”
“Get away, daughter," he grumbled, with that shade of gruffness which is but the transition to absolute surrender.”
“I will be watching closing to Trembley when Liz is pulled early. re: Matt Wieters "gruffness" ....”
“He sounded desperate — plaintive even — beneath the gruffness . . . something I'd never heard before.”
Fictionaut: Portland Music Listener [Card #5: The Heirophant] (WORK-IN-PROGRESS)
“He doesn't ask about my parents, and aside from his usual layer of gruffness, Grandpa Phil seems content in 24-hour care facility where we dropped him off five years ago, at peace among the adult diapers and shuffle boards.”
“Nor did his possession of twenty increasing millions hint the slightest betrayal in his voice or mitigate in the slightest the gruffness of his grunt.”
“(On this gruffness, Brooks waxes: "He's managed to preserve the patois of Chicago, the earthy freneticism of his Augie March upbringing.")”
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