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View synonyms for prig

prig

1

[ prig ]

noun

  1. a person who displays or demands of others pointlessly precise conformity, fussiness about trivialities, or exaggerated propriety, especially in a self-righteous or irritating manner.

    Synonyms: bluenose, puritan, prude



prig

2

[ prig ]

verb (used with object)

, prigged, prig·ging.
  1. Chiefly British. to steal.

verb (used without object)

, prigged, prig·ging.
  1. Scot. and North England. to haggle or argue over price.
  2. British Informal. to beg or entreat; ask a favor.

noun

  1. Chiefly British. a thief.

prig

1

/ prɪɡ /

verb

  1. another word for steal
“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


noun

  1. another word for thief
“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

prig

2

/ prɪɡ /

noun

  1. a person who is smugly self-righteous and narrow-minded
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈpriggish, adjective
  • ˈpriggishly, adverb
  • ˈpriggery, noun
  • ˈpriggism, noun
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Other Words From

  • prig·gish adjective
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Word History and Origins

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of prig1

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of prig2

C18: of unknown origin
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Example Sentences

Before forty there is yet a chance that the budding ninny may desert, and degenerate into a prig, a Philistine, or a physician.

Stephen was not a prig and she recognized the justice of his arguments, but he was rather hard and his views were too clear-cut.

He's a bit of a prig—in fact, he's as priggish as he well can be—but he's never done anything but run straight.

This man is difficult to judge; he was a man of poor physique, naturally timid, and a prig.

The letter describes a small boy who was "a very earnest vegetarian" and a super-prig into the bargain.

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