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| n. pl. bul·lies 1. A person who is habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller, weaker, less popular, or more vulnerable people. 2. A hired ruffian; a thug. 3. A pimp. 4. Archaic A fine person. 5. Archaic A sweetheart. v. bul·lied, bul·ly·ing, bul·lies v. tr. 1. To hurt or intimidate (someone) in the manner of a bully. See Synonyms at intimidate. 2. To make (one's way) aggressively. v. intr. 1. To behave like a bully. 2. To force one's way aggressively or by intimidation: “They bully into line at the gas pump” (Martin Gottfried). adj. Excellent; splendid: did a bully job of persuading the members. interj. Used to express approval: Bully for you! [Possibly from Middle Dutch boele, sweetheart, probably alteration of broeder, brother; see bhrāter- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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