Fleer is a noun for a look or word showing derision or mockery, evolving from an older verb meaning to laugh coarsely.
Fleer (FLEER) is a noun that means a contemptuous or mocking look or remark. Originally a verb meaning to laugh coarsely, it gained its noun form and meaning in usage found in Shakespeare.
| Word | fleer |
|---|---|
| Date | August 27, 2014 |
| Type | noun |
| Syllables | FLEER |
| Etymology | Fleer first appeared in English as a verb (fleryen in Middle English) meaning "to laugh, grin, or grimace in a coarse manner." The verb is of Scandinavian origin and is akin to the Norwegian flire, meaning "to giggle." The noun fleer first and most famously appeared in William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, in which the evil Iago invites Othello to observe the signs of his wife's unfaithfulness in the visage of her supposed lover, Cassio: "And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns / That dwell in every region of his face…." |
| Examples | When Adam suggested that the firm's partners do the work pro bono he half-expected to be hit with a collective fleer, but the others readily agreed. "He expressed himself, of course, with eccentric abandon-it would have been impossible for him to do otherwise; but he was content to indicate his deepest feelings with a fleer." - Lytton Strachey, Eminent Victorians, 1918 |
| Definition | : a word or look of derision or mockery |
Tags: wordoftheday::noun
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Dovecote general reminded eagle introduced english june letter
Previous card: Pica eating 16th century bird disorder eat collection
Up to card list: Word of the Day