donnish

[ don-ish ]

adjective

1. resembling or characteristic of a university don; scholarly; pedantic.

donnish

/ ˈdɒnɪʃ /

adjective

1. of or resembling a university don

Derived Forms

• ˈdonnishly, adverb
• ˈdonnishness, noun

Other Words From

• donnish·ly adverb
• donnish·ness noun
• donnism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of donnish¹

First recorded in 1845–50; don ¹ + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Vartan, who died last week at 87, was a learned man to be sure, but never a donnish one.

From Time

He had known dons at Oxford, and placed Lady Latimer in the donnish caste: that was all.

From Project Gutenberg

Never were dons of the donnish sort more brilliantly twitted than by young Belloc.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of Southeys donnish ways to the irrepressible lad were superlatively exasperating.

From Project Gutenberg

"Really, Miss Allison——" he began in his most dignified Oxford donnish manner.

From Project Gutenberg

I do not know whether I am donnish with him, or if I bullied him too much when he was little; but he is always counter to me.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abstruse
• pompous
• stilted