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Grundy1

[gruhn-dee]
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noun
  1. Felix,1777–1840, American politician: senator 1829–38, 1839–40; attorney general 1838–39.
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Grundy2

[gruhn-dee]
noun
  1. Mrs., a narrow-minded, conventional person who is extremely critical of any breach of propriety.
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Origin of Grundy2

after Mrs. Grundy, a character mentioned in the play Speed the Plough (1798) by Thomas Morton (1764?–1838), English playwright
Related formsGrun·dy·ist, Grun·dy·ite, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for grundy

Historical Examples

  • Grundy, of Tennessee, had been elected because he openly favored war.

    Union and Democracy

    Allen Johnson

  • Old Lady Grundy's watching you—and it's your turn in a second.

    The Straw

    Eugene O'Neill

  • Is it about your interview with Old Mrs. Grundy this afternoon?

    The Straw

    Eugene O'Neill

  • He rubbed his hands while he asked the Dowager what Mrs. Grundy would say to such doings.

    Mary Gray

    Katharine Tynan

  • "That must be Captain Grundy who surrendered and then ran away," answered Deck.

British Dictionary definitions for grundy

Grundy

noun
  1. a narrow-minded person who keeps critical watch on the propriety of others
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Derived FormsGrundyism, nounGrundyist or Grundyite, noun

Word Origin

C18: named after Mrs Grundy, the character in T. Morton's play Speed the Plough (1798)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012