Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Smile

Smile

(smīl)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Smiled
(smīld)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Smiling
.]
[OE.
smilen
; akin to Dan.
smile
, Sw.
smila
, MHG.
smielen
,
smieren
, L.
mirari
to wonder at, Skr.
smi
to smile; and probably to E.
smicker
. √173. Cf.
Admire
,
Marvel
,
Smirk
.]
1.
To express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness, by the features of the face; to laugh silently.
He doth nothing but frown. . . . He hears merry tales and
smiles
not.
Shakespeare
She
smiled
to see the doughty hero slain.
Pope.
When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they
smiled
.
Byron.
2.
To express slight contempt by a look implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer.
’T was what I said to Craggs and Child,
Who praised my modesty, and
smiled
.
Pope.
3.
To look gay and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy;
as,
smiling
spring;
smiling
plenty.
The desert
smiled
,
And paradise was opened in the wild.
Pope.
4.
To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance; – often with on;
as, to
smile
on one's labors
.

Smile

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To express by a smile;
as, to
smile
consent; to
smile
a welcome to visitors.
2.
To affect in a certain way with a smile.
[R.]
And sharply
smile
prevailing folly dead.
Young.

Smile

,
Noun.
[CF. Dan.
smiil
, Sw.
smil
. See
Smile
,
Verb.
I.
]
1.
The act of smiling; a peculiar change or brightening of the face, which expresses pleasure, moderate joy, mirth, approbation, or kindness; – opposed to
frown
.
Sweet intercourse
Of looks and
smiles
: for
smiles
from reason flow.
Milton.
2.
A somewhat similar expression of countenance, indicative of satisfaction combined with malevolent feelings, as contempt, scorn, etc;
as, a scornful
smile
.
3.
Favor; countenance; propitiousness;
as, the
smiles
of Providence
.
“The smile of heaven.”
Shak.
4.
Gay or joyous appearance;
as, the
smiles
of spring
.
The brightness of their [the flowers']
smile
was gone.
Bryant.

Webster 1828 Edition


Smile

SMILE

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To contract the features of the face in such a manner as to express pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness; the contrary to frown. The smiling infant in his hand shall take the crested basilisk and speckled snake. She smil'd to see the doughty hero slain.
2.
To express slight contempt by a smiling liik, implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer. 'Twas what I said to Craggs and Child, who prais'd my modesty, and smil'd.
3.
To look gay and joyous; or to have an appearance to excite joy; as smiling spring; smiling plenty. The desert smil'd, and paradise was open'd in the wild.
4.
To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance. May heaven smile on out labors.

SMILE

,
Verb.
T.
To awe with a contemptuous smile.

SMILE

, n,
1.
A peculiar contraction of the features of the face, which naturally expresses pleasure, moderate joy, approbation or kindness; opposed to frown. Sweet intercourse of looks and smiles.
2.
Gay or joyous appearance; as the smiles of spring.
3.
Favor; countenance; propitiousness; as the smiles of providence.

Definition 2024


smile

smile

English

A smile

Noun

smile (plural smiles)

  1. A facial expression comprised by flexing the muscles of both ends of one's mouth, often showing the front teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement or anxiety.
    She's got a perfect smile. He has a sinister smile. She had a smile on her face. He always puts a smile on my face.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 5, in The Celebrity:
      Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. [] She looked around expectantly, and recognizing Mrs. Cooke's maid [] Miss Thorn greeted her with a smile which greatly prepossessed us in her favor.
    • 1915, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price, chapterI:
      Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:smile

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

smile (third-person singular simple present smiles, present participle smiling, simple past and past participle smiled)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To have (a smile) on one's face.
    When you smile, the whole world smiles with you.   I don't know what he's smiling about.   She smiles a beautiful smile.
    • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 7, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
      “[…] This is Mr. Churchill, who, as you are aware, is good enough to come to us for his diaconate, and, as we hope, for much longer; and being a gentleman of independent means, he declines to take any payment.” Saying this Walden rubbed his hands together and smiled contentedly.
  2. (transitive) To express by smiling.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, in The Celebrity:
      I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.
    to smile consent, or a welcome
  3. (intransitive) To express amusement, pleasure, or love and kindness.
    • Byron
      When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled.
  4. (intransitive) To look cheerful and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy.
    The sun smiled down from a clear summer sky.
    • Alexander Pope
      The desert smiled, / And paradise was opened in the wild.
  5. (intransitive) To be propitious or favourable; to countenance.
    The gods smiled on his labours.

Derived terms

Translations

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: afterwards · horses · wonder · #706: smile · walk · places · simple

Anagrams


Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse *smīla (to smile), from Proto-Germanic *smīlijaną, *smirōną (to smile), from Proto-Indo-European *smeyə- (to laugh, be glad, wonder).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /smiːlø/, [ˈsmiːˀlə]
  • Rhymes: -iːlə

Verb

smile (imperative smil, infinitive at smile, present tense smiler, past tense smilede, perfect tense har smilet)

  1. to smile

Related terms


Norwegian Bokmål

Verb

smile (imperative smil, present tense smiler, simple past smilte, past participle smilt, present participle smilende)

  1. to smile
    smile fra øre til øre - grin from ear to ear
    Smil til kameraet. - Smile for the camera.

Related terms

References