CURTNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does curtness mean? 

• CURTNESS (noun)
  The noun CURTNESS has 1 sense:

1. an abrupt discourteous manner

  Familiarity information: CURTNESS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CURTNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An abrupt discourteous manner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

abruptness; brusqueness; curtness; gruffness; shortness

Hypernyms ("curtness" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; rudeness (a manner that is rude and insulting)

Derivation:

curt (marked by rude or peremptory shortness)

 Context examples 

In acknowledgement of this question, addressed to him with extraordinary curtness, Mr. Heep, uncomfortably clutching the blue bag he carried, replied that he was pretty well, he thanked my aunt, and hoped she was the same.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)