prig
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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Scot. and North England. to haggle or argue over price.
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British Informal. to beg or entreat; ask a favor.
noun
verb
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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prigsimple
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prigssimple
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have priggedperfect
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has priggedperfect
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am priggingprogressive
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are priggingprogressive
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is priggingprogressive
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have been priggingperfect progressive
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has been priggingperfect progressive
Past
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priggedsimple
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had priggedperfect
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was priggingprogressive
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were priggingprogressive
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had been priggingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prig1
First recorded in 1560–70; formerly, “coxcomb”; perhaps akin to prink
Origin of prig2
First recorded in 1505–15; originally thieves' cant; origin uncertain
Explanation
If you act like you're better than everyone else, they might start calling you a prig — a snobby and arrogant person. A prig might lecture his friends about their manners, or complain about having to eat at a diner instead of a fancier restaurant. Prigs tend to be self-centered and uptight and aren't much fun to be around. In the eighteenth century, prig meant "precise in speech in manners," and implied someone who was deeply religious. The origin of the word is a mystery — its earlier meanings included "dandy or fop" and "thief."
Vocabulary lists containing prig
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Each of them was engaged to Ernest Worthing, but, in the words of the immortal Betsy Prig when referring to Mrs 'Arris, "There ain't no sich person."
From Oscar Wilde by Ingleby, Leonard Cresswell
“I didn’t know Prig was there,” sobbed Dolly.
From Happy Days for Boys and Girls by Various
It will be remembered as the inn at which Mr. Lewsome, during his p. 50illness, was professionally attended by Sairey Gamp and Betsy Prig, “turn and turn about.”
From Rambles in Dickens' Land by Allbut, Robert
I would not kill Prig, for then she would be gone too, and to-morrow you would be sorry.
From Happy Days for Boys and Girls by Various
"Oh! then it was to call me over the Carpet that you sent for me so sudden and peremptory?" rejoined Mrs. Prig, with a smile.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 98, May 24, 1890 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
