/ˈnɑːsti/
#1958 of 5,000 Core 5000
Translation
Very unpleasant, or unkind to other people. It can also mean bad enough to worry about.
Word origin
The origin is not settled, and the older dictionaries disagree.
- Origin
- uncertain
Other proposed origins
- Often traced to Old French nastre, a short form of villenastre meaning low-born or wretched. (Old French, nastre)
- Others take it from a Dutch or Low German word nestig meaning dirty, as a nest can be. (Dutch, nestig)
Examples
.
Here nasty means very unpleasant.
.
About people, nasty means unkind or cruel.
.
A nasty cut is a bad one, not just an unpleasant one.
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 40.