Definition of wintry

The word "wintry" can be traced back to the Old English adjective "winterig," which means "belonging to winter." The Old English word was derived from the Old Norse "vatr," meaning "water," which referred to the melting snow in winter, and the Old English word "regn," meaning "rain," which referred to the rain that fell on the snow. The phrase "wintry vanderer" can be found in the works of the English poet Thomas Gray, in his poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." The poem describes a traveler brave enough to journey through the winter landscape, and the term "wintry" is used to highlight the harshness and bitterness of the winter weather. In modern English, the word "wintry" is still commonly used to describe the bleak and chilly atmosphere of winter. It is derived from the Old English "winterig," which was simplified over time, eventually becoming "wintry" in Middle English. Today, the word is used to convey a sense of crispness, coldness, and introspection that is often associated with the winter season.