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Antonyms for taller

Grammar : Adj
Spell : tawl
Phonetic Transcription : tɔl

Definition of taller

Origin :
  • "high in stature," 1520s, probably ultimately from Old English getæl "prompt, active." Sense evolved to "brave, valiant, seemly, proper" (late 14c.), then to "attractive, handsome" (mid-15c.), and finally "being of more than average height." The Old English word is related to Old High German gi-zal "quick," Gothic un-tals "indocile."
  • Sense evolution is remarkable, but adjectives applied to persons often mutate quickly in meaning (e.g. pretty, buxom, German klein "small, little," which in Middle High German meant the same as its English cognate clean). Meaning "exaggerated" (as in tall tale) is American English colloquial attested by 1846. Phrase tall, dark, and handsome is recorded from 1906.
  • adj high in stature, length
  • adj exaggerated, unreasonable
Example sentences :
  • The men are taller than the average, and the women, relatively, taller than the men.
  • Extract from : « Scientific American Supplement, No. 433, April 19, 1884 » by Various
  • Miss Merton is the taller, but there is something fierce in her eyes.
  • Extract from : « Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • I wish you'd light up, evenin's, an' not set here by one taller candle!
  • Extract from : « Meadow Grass » by Alice Brown
  • Evidently Dick is the taller, for Mr. Don has to look up to him.
  • Extract from : « Echoes of the War » by J. M. Barrie
  • She was a lithe, strong woman, taller than he, or else she would have fallen.
  • Extract from : « Roden's Corner » by Henry Seton Merriman
  • They were armed with sheath knives and revolvers, and the taller bore a rifle.
  • Extract from : « Ruggles of Red Gap » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • These too, in turn, became sprinkled with the darker and taller pines.
  • Extract from : « The Law-Breakers » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • The man was tall and thin, taller and thinner than Mr. Gubb himself.
  • Extract from : « Philo Gubb Correspondence-School Detective » by Ellis Parker Butler
  • I really think you must be a little like him, only browner and taller, perhaps.
  • Extract from : « The Princess Virginia » by C. N. Williamson
  • The barber's customer was a taller man standing than he was long lying.
  • Extract from : « The Duke Of Chimney Butte » by G. W. Ogden

Synonyms for taller

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019