Cantankerous \Can*tan"ker*ous\, a.
Perverse; contentious; ugly; malicious. [Colloq.] --
{Can*tan"ker*ous*ly}, adv. -- {Can*tan"ker*ous*ness}, n.
[1913 Webster]
The cantankerous old maiden aunt. --Thackeray.
[1913 Webster] Cantar