This flashcard defines 'askance' as an adverb meaning with a side-glance, obliquely, or with disapproval or distrust. Its exact origin is unknown, but it has been used in English since the mid-16th century.
This flashcard defines 'askance' as an adverb meaning with a side-glance, obliquely, or with disapproval or distrust. Its exact origin is unknown, but it has been used in English since the mid-16th century.
| Word | askance |
|---|---|
| Date | May 13, 2015 |
| Type | adverb |
| Syllables | uh-SKANSS |
| Etymology | Etymologists have been scratching their heads over the origin of askance for centuries. Sources from Italian and Old Norse, among other languages, have been suggested, but, today, dictionary editors look askance at all of these explanations and simply label the word "origin unknown." What we do know is that the word was first used in English in the mid-16th century with the meaning "sideways" or "with a sideways glance," and that writers over the years have used the suggestion of someone looking askance at something to express a number of feelings from disapproval and distrust to jealousy. |
| Examples | Rebecca's children looked askance at her when she suggested they turn off their electronic devices and go play outside in the nice weather. "Well, mandolin players tend to look askance at ukuleles, because we're often asked if that little guitar-looking thing is a ukulele. 'No, it’s a mandolin!'" - Geoff Howes, BG News (Bowling Green State University), April 5, 2015 |
| Definition | 1 : with a side-glance : obliquely 2 : with disapproval or distrust : scornfully |
Tags: wordoftheday::adverb
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