adj. nas·ti·er, nas·ti·est 1. b. Unpleasantly cold or wet: nasty weather. c. Archaic Dirty; filthy. 2. Morally offensive or indecent: a nasty film. 3. a. Unpleasant or annoying: a nasty habit. b. Mean or spiteful: Stop being nasty to each other. 4. Painful or dangerous; grave: a nasty accident. 5. Exasperatingly difficult to solve or handle: a nasty puzzle; a nasty problem. n. pl. nas·ties One that is nasty: "It is the business of museums to present us with nasties as well as with fine things" (Country Life). [Middle English nasti, filthy, possibly alteration of Old French nastre, bad, short for villenastre : vilein, bad; see VILLAIN + -astre, pejorative suff. (from Latin -aster).] nasti·ly adv. nasti·ness n. |
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