a. Obs. or arch. [f. as TETRIC a.1 + -AL: see -ICAL.] Austere, severe, harsh, bitter, morose.
a. 1529. Skelton, Replic., Wks. 1843, I. 209. Touching the tetrycall theologisacioun of these demy diuines, and Stoicall studiantes.
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. viii. 11. It is not good to be too tetrical and virulent.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Tetrical, rude, rough, unpleasant, sower, crabbish, hard to relish.
1772. Nugent, trans. Hist. Fr. Gerund, II. 81. Some so tetrical, so cross-grained, and of so corrupt a taste.
1901. M. Hume, Span. People, 488. He had none of the forbidding, tetrical Spanish form of devocion.
Hence Tetricalness, the quality of being tetrical.
1653. Gauden, Hierasp., 170. It requires … diligence … to contend with younger ignorance, and elder obstinacy, and aged tetricalness.
