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sneerful

 - 3 dictionary results

sneer

  [sneer]
Use sneerful in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to smile, laugh, or contort the face in a manner that shows scorn or contempt: They sneered at his pretensions.
2. to speak or write in a manner expressive of derision or scorn.
–verb (used with object)
3. to utter or say in a sneering manner.
–noun
4. a look or expression of derision, scorn, or contempt.
5. a derisive or scornful utterance, esp. one more or less covert or insinuative.
6. an act of sneering.
Origin:
1545–55; orig., to snort; cf. Fris (N dial.) sneere scornful remark, snarl 1

Related forms:
sneerer, noun
sneerful, adjective
sneer⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
sneerless, adjective

Synonyms:
2. gibe. See scoff. 5. scoff, gibe, jeer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sneerful
sneer   (snîr)   
n.  

  1. A scornful facial expression characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip.

  2. A contemptuous facial expression, sound, or statement.

v.   sneered, sneer·ing, sneers

v.   tr.
To utter with a sneer or in a sneering manner.
v.   intr.

  1. To assume a scornful, contemptuous, or derisive facial expression.

  2. To speak in a scornful, contemptuous, or derisive manner.


[From Middle English sneren, to mock, alteration of Old English fnǣran, to breathe heavily; see pneu- in Indo-European roots.]
sneer'er n., sneer'ful, sneer'y adj., sneer'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

sneer  (v.)
1553, "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 1680; sense of "to curl the upper lip in scorn" is attested from 1775. The noun is attested from 1707.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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