blusterous

blusterous

English

Alternative forms

• blustrous (obsolete)

Etymology

bluster +‎ -ous

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈblʌst(ə)ɹəs/

Adjective

blusterous (comparative more blusterous, superlative most blusterous)

1. Tending to bluster.
   1. (of wind) Blowing in loud and abrupt bursts.

      Synonyms: blustery, gusty

      • 1579, Thomas Salter, A Mirrhor Mete for All Mothers, Matrones, and Maidens, intituled The Mirrhor of Modestie, London: Edward White,

        […] wee see a strong and sturdie Oke to stande stiffe and immo∣uable against the blustrous blastes of fierce windes […]

      • 1878, Thomas Hardy, The Return of the Native, Book 3, Chapter 1,

        These Sunday-morning hair-cuttings were performed by Fairway; the victim sitting on a chopping-block in front of the house […] . Summer and winter the scene was the same, unless the wind were more than usually blusterous, when the stool was shifted a few feet round the corner.

      • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, New York: Viking, Chapter 8,p. 250,

        They had had an afternoon of blusterous tramontana, continually changing direction and force, and exploding the light snowfalls with mischievous gusts.

   2. Accompanied by strong wind.

      Synonyms: blowy, blustery, breezy, squally, stormy, tempestuous, windy

      • 1895, Kenneth Grahame, “The Blue Room” in The Golden Age, London: John Lane, 1904, p. 205,

        […] it seemed entirely right and fitting that the wind sang and sobbed in the poplar tops, and in the lulls of it, sudden spirts of rain spattered the already dusty roads, on that blusterous March day when Edward and I awaited, on the station platform, the arrival of the new tutor.

      • 1928, A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner, Chapter 8,

        Owl nodded solemnly. ¶ “Correct me if I am wrong,” he said, “but am I right in supposing that it is a very Blusterous day outside?”

   3. (of a person) Pompous or arrogant, especially in one's speech; given to outbursts.

      Synonyms: blustering, blustery, swaggering

      • 1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, London, Canto 3, p. 107,

        The antient Heroes were illustrious

        For being benigne, and not blustrous,

        Against a vanquisht foe:

      • 1854, Charles Dickens, “Book 3, Chapter 3”, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], OCLC 4389957:

        The blustrous Bounderby crimsoned and swelled to such an extent on hearing these words, that he seemed to be, and probably was, on the brink of a fit.

      • 1914, Arnold Bennett, The Price of Love, Chapter 5, Part 5,

        Thomas Batchgrew’s blusterous voice frankly showed acute irritation.

   4. Characterized by strong or violent emotion; not calm, stable or orderly.

      Synonyms: stormy, tempestuous, turbulent

      • c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon,  […], published 1609, OCLC 78596089, [Act III, scene 1]:

        Now, mild may be thy life!
        For a more blustrous birth had never babe:
        Quiet and gentle thy conditions! for
        Thou art the rudeliest welcome to this world
        That ever was prince's child. Happy what follows!

      • 1906, Evelyn Beatrice Hall (as S. G. Tallentyre), The Friends of Voltaire, London: John Murray, Chapter 4, p. 98,

        Victor had already plunged into that blusterous, incontinent life which was to bring ruin to his own family […]

Derived terms

• blusterously
• blusterousness