Fleer vs Sneer - What's the difference?
fleer | sneer |
To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn; to deride; to sneer; to mock; to gibe.
* 1599 ,
To grin with an air of civility; to leer.
* Latimer
To raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn
To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to say sneeringly.
A facial expression where one slightly raises one corner of the upper lip, generally indicating scorn.
A display of contempt; scorn.
* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
, chapter=8
As verbs the difference between fleer and sneer
is that fleer is to make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn; to deride; to sneer; to mock; to gibe while sneer is to raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn.As nouns the difference between fleer and sneer
is that fleer is one who flees while sneer is a facial expression where one slightly raises one corner of the upper lip, generally indicating scorn.fleer
English
Etymology 1
Probably from a Scandinavian source, compare Norwegian bokmål , Jutish Danish flire.Verb
(en verb)- LEONATO. Tush, tush, man! never fleer and jest at me:
- I speak not like a dotard nor a fool,
- As, under privilege of age, to brag
- What I have done being young, or what would do,
- Were I not old.
- Grinning and fleering as though they went to a bear baiting.
Etymology 2
FromAnagrams
*sneer
English
Verb
(en verb)- to sneer fulsome lies at a person
Noun
(en noun)citation, passage=It was a casual sneer , obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face.}}