adj. (colloquial).—Cross-grained; ill-humoured; self-willed; productive of strife. See also quot. 1773. [Thought to be derived from the M.E. contak, conteke, contention or quarrelling.] So also CANTANKEROUSLY and CANTANKEROUSNESS. For synonyms, see CRUSTY.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, ii., 1. There’s not a more CANTANCKEROUS road in all Christendom.
1775. SHERIDAN, The Rivals, Act v., Sc. 3. But I hope Mr. Faulkland, as there are three of us come on purpose for the game, you won’t be so CANTANCKEROUS as to spoil the party by sitting out.
1876. M. E. BRADDON, Joshua Haggard, ch. xvi. And who was to nurse this peevish, CANTANKEROUS old man.
Hence the American verb, to CANTANKERATE, and adjective, CANTANKERSOME.
1835. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xxiv. You may [by contentious writing] happify your inimies [and] CANTANKERATE your opponents. Ibid., 3 S., ch. xii. Plato Frisk, a jumpin’ Quaker, a terrible cross-grained CANTANKERSOME critter.
