— shrillness , n. — shrilly , adv.
/shril/ , adj., shriller, shrillest , v., n., adv.
adj.
1. high-pitched and piercing in sound quality: a shrill cry.
2. producing such a sound.
3. full of or characterized by such a sound: shrill music.
4. betraying some strong emotion or attitude in an exaggerated amount, as antagonism or defensiveness.
5. marked by great intensity; keen: the shrill, incandescent light of the exploding bomb.
v.t. , v.i.
6. to cry shrilly.
n.
7. a shrill sound.
adv.
8. in a shrill manner; shrilly.
[ 1300-50; ME shrille (adj., v.); akin to OE scrallettan to sound loudly; c. G schrill (adj.), schrillen (v.); cf. ON skrill rabble ]