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Webster 1913 Edition


Askance

A-skance′

,
Verb.
T.
To turn aside.
[Poet.]
O, how are they wrapped in with infamies
That from their own misdeeds
askance
their eyes!
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Askance

ASK'ANCE

,

Definition 2024


askance

askance

English

Alternative forms

  • askaunce (obsolete)

Adverb

askance (not comparable)

  1. (of a look or glance) With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.
    The beggar asked for change, but the haughty woman only looked at him askance.
    • 1932Clark Ashton Smith, The Maker of Gargoyles
      The scandal of opposition died down, and the stone-carver himself, though the town-folk continued to eye him askance, was able to secure other work through the favor of discriminating patrons.
    • Gladstone
      Both [] were viewed askance by authority.
    • Landor
      My palfrey eyed them askance.
  2. Sideways; obliquely.
    • 1896H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, chapter 8
      I glanced askance at this strange creature, and found him watching me with his queer, restless eyes.
    • 1878Henry James, The Europeans, chapter 1
      ...the head-stones in the grave-yard beneath seemed to be holding themselves askance to keep it out of their faces.

Synonyms

Translations

Adjective

askance (not comparable)

  1. Turned to the side, especially of the eyes.

Synonyms