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Webster 1913 Edition

Thorny

Thorn′y

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Thornier
;
sup
erl.
Thorniest
.]
[Cf. AS.
þorniht
.]
1.
Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; spiny;
as, a
thorny
wood; a
thorny
tree; a
thorny
crown
.
2.
Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively, troublesome; vexatious; harassing; perplexing.
“The thorny point of bare distress.”
Shak.
The steep and
thorny
way to heaven.
Shakespeare
Thorny rest-harrow
(Bot.)
,
rest-harrow.
–
Thorny trefoil
,
a prickly plant of the genus
Fagonia
(
Fagonia Cretica
, etc.).

Webster 1828 Edition

Thorny

THORN'Y

,
Adj.
Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; as a thorny wood; a thorny tree; a thorny diadem or crown.
1.
Troublesome; vexatious; harassing; perplexing; as thorny care; the thorny path of vice.
2.
Sharp; pricking; vexatious; as thorny points.

Definition 2025

thorny

thorny

See also: Þorný

English

Adjective

thorny ‎(comparative thornier, superlative thorniest)

  1. having thorns or spines
  2. troublesome or vexatious
    • Shakespeare
      the steep and thorny way to heaven
  3. aloof and irritable
    • Louisa May Alcott, Good Wives
      'Come, Jo, don't be thorny. After studying himself to a skeleton all the week, a fellow deserves petting, and ought to get it.'

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