dour
dour BrE [ˈdaʊə(r)] NAmE [ˈdaʊər] BrE [dʊə(r)] NAmE [dʊr] adjective
1. (of a person)giving the impression of being unfriendly and severe
2. (of a thing, a place, or a situation)not pleasant; with no features that make it lively or interesting
•The city, drab and dour by day, is transformed at night.
•The game proved to be a dour struggle, with both men determined to win.
Derived Word: ↑dourly
Word Origin:
[dour dourly] late Middle English (originally Scots): probably from Scottish Gaelic dúr ‘dull, obstinate, stupid’, perhaps from Latin durus ‘hard’.
Example Bank:
•He was a dour middle-aged man.
•He was a striking figure with a long, dour face.
•They were barely acknowledged by a dour receptionist.
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