— irascibility, irascibleness , n. — irascibly , adv.
/i ras"euh beuhl/ , adj.
1. easily provoked to anger; very irritable: an irascible old man.
2. characterized or produced by anger: an irascible response.
[ 1350-1400; ME irascibel irascibilis, equiv. to L irasc- (s. of irasci to grow angry; equiv. to ir ( a ) IRE + -a- theme vowel + -sc- inchoative suffix + -i inf. ending; see -ESCE) + -ibilis -IBLE ]
Syn. 1, 2. testy, touchy, peppery, choleric, short-tempered. See irritable .
Ant. 1, 2. calm, even-tempered.