/ English Dictionary

SIMPER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A silly self-conscious smile

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("simper" is a kind of...):

grin; grinning; smile; smiling (a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Smile affectedly or derisively

Synonyms:

simper; smirk

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "simper" is one way to...):

smile (change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "simper"):

fleer (to smirk contemptuously)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

simperer (a smiler whose smile is silly and self-conscious and sometimes coy)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“Cheer up, Mas'r Davy bor'!” said Ham, in his simpering way.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The simpering fellow with the weak legs, who had taken Agnes down, stated the question more decisively yet, I thought.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He was, now, a huge, strong fellow of six feet high, broad in proportion, and round-shouldered; but with a simpering boy's face and curly light hair that gave him quite a sheepish look.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE