— termagantly , adv.
/terr"meuh geuhnt/ , n.
1. a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman.
2. ( cap. ) a mythical deity popularly believed in the Middle Ages to be worshiped by the Muslims and introduced into the morality play as a violent, overbearing personage in long robes.
adj.
3. violent; turbulent; brawling; shrewish.
[ 1175-1225; ME Termagaunt, earlier Tervagaunt, alter. of OF Tervagan name of the imaginary deity ]
Syn. 1. shrew, virago, harridan, scold.