Added 9 October 2026
dour
/ˈdʊə/ adjective
Latin root: dūrus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dour at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Stubbornly unyielding.
dogged persistence
-
Harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance.
a dour, self-sacrificing life
-
Showing a brooding ill humor.
a dark scowl
Origin
Borrowed from Scots dour, possibly from Latin dūrus (“hard, stern”), via Middle Irish dúr. Compare French dur, Catalan dur, Italian duro, Portuguese duro, Romanian dur, Spanish duro. Doublet of dure.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)