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frumious

[ froo-mee-uhs ]
/ ˈfru mi əs /
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adjective
very angry.
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Origin of frumious

Coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass (1871), a blend, Carroll claimed, of fuming and furious
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT FRUMIOUS

What does frumious mean?

Frumious means very angry, as in My mom was frumious that I skipped school today.

Frumious was coined by author Lewis Carroll for his children’s novel Through the Looking-Glass. It appears in the poem “Jabberwocky,” which is part of the novel.

In the poem, the narrator warns his son to “shun / The frumious Bandersnatch,” a violent and enraged creature.

Frumious is mostly used as Carroll intended, often in a playful rather than serious way.

Example: I am absolutely frumious that they left that movie on a cliffhanger.

Where does frumious come from?

The first records of the term frumious come from the late 1800s. It was coined by Lewis Carroll for his novel Through the Looking-Glass, who said it was a combination of fuming and furious.

Frumious Bandersnatch is the name of an American rock-’n’-roll band from the 1960s, known for its psychedelic music and allusions to famous works of literature, such as Through the Looking-Glass and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, both by Carroll. Some of the band’s most popular compositions include “Chesire” and “Woodrose Syrup.”

Learn about other delightful words coined by Carroll here.

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What are some words that share a root or word element with frumious

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How is frumious used in real life?

Frumious is primarily used playfully in casual speech.

 

More information about frumious!

Is frumious used correctly in the following sentence?

Ishir was so frumious about Jadzia’s promotion that he threw her a party.

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