Random Sequence: Feeling 'Peevish'

"It was the evil spirit, discontent, brooding there, and flinging the shadow of its sombre wing over all that darkened the whole moral atmosphere, and transformed the sunlight into gloom. It was discontent that added line after line to the faded, fretful face of Maria Denning, and rendering her a peevish, fault-finding wife, and an unhappy mother."
--from "The Contented Mind", by Mary W. Janvrin, in Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, April 1864

(I found a bound copy of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

Synonyms for "peevish" are "petulant", "irritable", "snappish", and "cross". It's not an adjective much used these days, perhaps because it sounds -- or looks -- like it has something to do with "pee". I like the acidic sound of it, though -- it sounds like what it means.