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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)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they simper ... he / she / it simpers
Past simple: simpered
Past participle: simpered
-ing form: simpering
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)
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)
