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sneermore about sneer

sneer

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sneer  \Sneer\,  n. 
  1.  The  act  of  sneering. 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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  nose,  or  by  a 
  particular  facial  expression. 
 
  2.  To  inssinuate  contempt  by  a  covert  expression;  to  speak 
  derisively. 
 
  I  could  be  content  to  be  a  little  sneared  at 
  --Pope. 
 
  3.  To  show  mirth  awkwardly.  [R.]  --Tatler. 
 
  Syn:  To  scoff;  gibe;  jeer. 
 
  Usage:  {Sneer},  {Scoff},  {Jeer}.  The  verb  to  sneer  implies  to 
  cast  contempt  indirectly  or  by  covert  expressions.  To 
  jeer  is  stronger,  and  denotes  the  use  of  several 
  sarcastic  reflections.  To  scoff  is  stronger  still 
  implying  the  use  of  insolent  mockery  and  derision. 
 
  And  sneers  as  learnedly  as  they  Like  females 
  o'er  their  morning  tea.  --Swift. 
 
  Midas,  exposed  to  all  their  jeers,  Had  lost  his 
  art,  and  kept  his  ears.  --Swift. 
 
  The  fop,  with  learning  at  defiance,  Scoffs  at 
  the  pedant  and  science.  --Gay. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  ``A  ship  of  fools,''  he  sneered.  --Tennyson. 
 
  2.  To  treat  with  sneers;  to  affect  or  move  by  sneers. 
 
  Nor  sneered  nor  bribed  from  virtue  into  shame. 
  --Savage. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sneer 
  n  1:  a  facial  expression  of  contempt  or  scorn;  the  upper  lip 
  curls  [syn:  {sneering},  {leer}] 
  2:  a  contemptuous  or  scornful  remark  [syn:  {sneering}] 
  v  1:  express  contempt  through  a  facial  expression 
  2:  smile  contemptuously




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