Overglances

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A brief or casual look at something while doing other activities
2. A furtive or hasty glance that occurs almost indiscriminately
3. An incidental observation involving a quick visual assessment without prolonged focus

Etymology: "Overglances" is the third-person singular present form of "overglance," a verb built from the prefix "over-" and the verb "glance." The base word "glance" came into English from Middle English, where it meant a quick, sideways look or a light strike, and its sense of a fleeting look is the one that carries into "overglance." The prefix "over-" adds the idea of passing across or past, so to overglance something is to take a rapid look over it without really stopping to see it. The form "overglances" simply shows that the verb is being used with a singular subject, as in "she overglances the crowd." Because the verb is formed by straightforward prefixing, its history is plain: the meaning comes directly from the two parts rather than from a notable coinage or shift in sense.

Synonyms: overlooks, ignores, misses

Antonyms: notices, observes, examines