Irascible
/ɪˈræs.ə.bəl/noun
Having a quick temper or being easily angered.
Did you know?Irascible comes from Latin ira, meaning “anger,” a root that also produced the English noun ire—turning emotional fury into a permanent word.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
īra
“anger, rage, wrath”
Classical Latin
Latin
īrāscī
“to become angry or grow enraged”
Late Latin
Latin
īrāscibilis
“liable or prone to anger”
12th–13th Century
Old French
irascible
“easily angered; choleric”
15th Century
English
irascible
“quick-tempered or easily provoked”
Modern English
English
irascible
“having a readily aroused temper”
Explore more surprising origins