Ruddy Meaning
/ˈɹʌdi/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjReddish in color, especially of the face, fire, or sky.
adjRobust and vigorous, like a person with a red complexion (as compared to a pale one).
Sentence Examples
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
My beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After jogging in the cold wind without a scarf, his cheeks became ____ and felt warm.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
His ____ complexion suggested he spent most of his time working outdoors in all weathers.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ-der. Old English rudu Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Old English rudiġ Middle English rody English ruddy Inherited from Middle English rody, from Old English rudiġ (“reddish; ruddy”), from rudu + -iġ. By surface analysis, rud (“redness”) + -y. Compare Icelandic roði (“redness”). The British slang sense expressing irritation is presumably a euphemism for bloody.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Drystone walls, farm buildings and stone cottages, roofed with ruddy tiles, line the way and blend gently into the surrounding countryside."
— 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, →ISBN, page 143:
"A silvery cloud drifted over the mountains that surrounded him, its edges glowing with ruddy light cast from the harvest moon cradled between two peaks."
— 2003, Christopher Paolini, “Discovery”, in Eragon, page 6:
"Frank, who is narrow and ruddy, and who tended to wear a shirt and tie with a cherry-red beanie pulled low over one ear, swapped his white butcher’s coat for a puffer jacket, and led me outside"
— 2020 September 1, Tom Lamont, “The butcher's shop that lasted 300 years (give or take)”, in The Guardian:
""Sister?" I inquired. "She ain't 'ere," a man's voice said. "What's more," it went on, "she ain't been 'ere for ruddy hours, neither. Can't you pull them ruddy curtains, mate, and let's 'ave some flippin' light?""
— 1951, John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, published 1954, page 19:
"“Of all the damn silly fatheaded things!” she vociferated, if that's the word. “With a million ruddy names to choose from, these ruddy Creams call one ruddy son Wilbert and the other ruddy son Wilfred, and both these ruddy sons are known as Willie. Just going out of their way to mislead the innocent bystander. You'd think people would have more consideration.”"
— 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “XVIII AND XX”, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After jogging in the cold wind without a scarf, his cheeks became ____ and felt warm.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
His ____ complexion suggested he spent most of his time working outdoors in all weathers.