sneer

sneer
{{11}}sneer (n.) 1707, from SNEER (Cf. sneer) (v.).
{{12}}sneer (v.) 1550s, "to snort" (of horses), perhaps from N.Fris. sneere "to scorn," related to O.E. fnæran "to snort, gnash one's teeth," of imitative origin (Cf. Dan. snærre "to grin like a dog," M.Du., M.H.G. snarren "to rattle"). Meaning "to smile contemptuously" is from 1670s; sense of "to curl the upper lip in scorn" is attested from 1775. Related: Sneered; sneering.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Sneer — Sneer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sneered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sneering}.] [OE. sneren, Dan. sn?rre to snarl or grin (like a dog); cf. Prov. E. sneer to grin, sner to snort, snert to sneer at. See {Snore}, v. i.] 1. To show contempt by turning up the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sneer — sneer·er; sneer·ful; sneer·ing·ly; sneer·less; sneer; …   English syllables

  • Sneer — Sneer, v. t. 1. To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person. Congreve. [1913 Webster] A ship of fools, he sneered. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 2. To treat with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sneer´er — sneer «snihr», verb, noun. –v.i. to show scorn or contempt by looks or words: »The mean girls sneered at the poor girl s cheap clothes. Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering teach the rest to sneer (Alexander Pope) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sneer — Sneer, n. 1. The act of sneering. [1913 Webster] 2. A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt. Who can refute a sneer? Raley. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sneer — [snir] vi. [ME sneren, akin to Fris sneere, to scorn, Dan snaere, to grin like a dog: see SNARL1] 1. to smile derisively; show scorn or contempt as by curling the upper lip 2. to express derision, scorn, or contempt in speech or writing vt. 1. to …   English World dictionary

  • sneer — index disdain, disparage, disrespect, flout, humiliate, jeer, mock (deride), ridicule …   Law dictionary

  • sneer at — index denigrate, derogate, discommend, disdain, minimize, misprize Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • sneer — vb *scoff, jeer, gird, flout, gibe, fleer Analogous words: deride, taunt, mock, *ridicule: scout, *despise, scorn, disdain …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sneer — [v] mock, condemn affront, belittle, burlesque, caricature, crack, curl one’s lip at*, decry, deride, detract, disdain, disparage, dump, fleer, flout, gibe, gird, give Bronx cheer, grin, hold in contempt*, hold up to ridicule*, insult, jeer, jest …   New thesaurus

  • sneer — ► NOUN ▪ a contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone. ► VERB ▪ smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner. ORIGIN probably imitative …   English terms dictionary

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