What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Simper vs Scoff - What's the difference?

simper | scoff |

As verbs the difference between simper and scoff

is that simper is to smile in a foolish, frivolous, self-conscious, coy, or smug manner while scoff is to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision or scoff can be (british) to eat food quickly.

As nouns the difference between simper and scoff

is that simper is a foolish, frivolous, self-conscious, or affected smile; a smirk while scoff is derision; ridicule; a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach or scoff can be (south africa) food.

simper

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To smile in a foolish, frivolous, self-conscious, coy, or smug manner.
  • * 1892 , , The American Claimant , ch. 21:
    • Why, look at him—look at this simpering self-righteous mug!
  • * 1915 , , The Voice In The Fog , ch. 24:
    • How the fools kotowed and simpered while I looked over their jewels and speculated upon how much I could get for them!
  • (obsolete) To glimmer; to twinkle.
  • * Herbert
    • Yet can I mark how stars above / Simper and shine.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A foolish, frivolous, self-conscious, or affected smile; a smirk.
  • * 1843 , , Book 2, Ch. 2, "St. Edmundsbury":
    • Yes, another world it was, when these black ruins, white in their new mortar and fresh chiselling, first saw the sun as walls, long ago. Gauge not, with thy dilettante compasses, with that placid dilettante simper , the Heaven's—Watchtower of our Fathers, the fallen God's—Houses, the Golgotha of true Souls departed!
  • * 1972 , , The Levanter (2009 edition), ISBN 9780755117635, p. 158:
    • He paused, and then a strange expression appeared on his lips. It was very like a simper .

    See also

    * smirk * shit-eating grin

    References

    Anagrams

    *

    scoff

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) scof/skof, of Scandinavian origin. Compare (etyl) skaup, Danish skuffelse(noun)/skuffe(verb) and Old High German scoph.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Derision; ridicule; a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
  • * Shakespeare
    • With scoffs , and scorns, and contumelious taunts.
  • * 1852 , The Dublin University Magazine (page 66)
    • There were sneers, and scoffs , and inuendoes of some; prophecies of failure in a hundred ways
  • An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
  • * Cowper
    • The scoff of withered age and beardless youth.
    Synonyms
    * derision, ridicule * See also

    Verb

  • To jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision.
  • * Goldsmith
    • Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, / And fools who came to scoff , remained to pray.
    Synonyms
    * contemn, deride, sneer

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (South Africa) Food.

    • Verb

  • (British) To eat food quickly.
  • (South Africa) To eat.
    • Synonyms
    * (eat quickly) (l), (l) (US)

    See also

    * scuff