Lourings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To look sullen or disapproving, especially when expressing displeasure towards someone or something
2. To display a gloomy or threatening demeanor as a way to communicate dissatisfaction or anger
3. To adopt a displeased or scowling expression, indicating unhappiness or annoyance

Etymology: "Lourings" is the plural of "louring," a noun for sullen, frowning looks. The plural form is simply what you get when a noun of this kind is counted, so the real history lies in the verb it comes from: "lour," meaning to scowl or to look threateningly, and to be dark or overcast, as skies can be. "Lour" came into Middle English from the Dutch-and-Low-German family of words for lurking or peering, and the noun was built on it by adding the suffix "-ing," which turned the action into a thing one could produce. Its Middle English forms varied widely, including "lourand," "lowrand," and "luring," and the modern spelling settled only gradually. The Dutch cognate "loerend" still means "lurking" or "louring," which hints at the older sense of watchful, sidelong looking before the scowl took over.

Synonyms: glowerings, scowlings, frownings

Antonyms: smilings, grinnings