Thursday, January 30, 2014

ugsome

ugsome \UHG-suhm\, adjective:

Scot. and North England. horrid; loathsome.

Slowly she turned to find herself facing a man with a scarred hollow at his temple, a very ugsome fellow. “I don't know you,” she said. “Leave me alone.”
-- Lisa Klein, Love Disguised, 2013
“Whatever would compel a young lass to look so ugsome?” While Rose ducked her head, embarrassed, Leana curtsied and extended her hand.
-- Liz Curtis Higgs, Whence Came a Prince, 2005

Ugsome is from the Middle English word ugg meaning "to fear, cause loathing" which is probably rooted in the Old Norse word ugga.

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