Smirks

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A subtle, often self-satisfied smile that conveys irony or amusement typically involves the corners of the mouth lifting gently
2. An expression that suggests amusement or disdain is formed by a slight upturn of the lips, often reflecting confidence or slyness
3. A facial expression where the lips curl slightly to show self-satisfaction or superiority

Etymology: "Smirk" once meant an ordinary smile. Its Old English ancestor, "smearcian," simply meant "to smile," and the word could still describe a generic smile until the 18th century. The sneering, self-satisfied sense only developed in Early Modern English, so the word narrowed from pleasant to malicious over several centuries. The word is a doublet of "smile," meaning the two descend from the same source but came into English as separate words. Both trace back to Proto-Germanic "smarōną," meaning "to mock, scoff at," which suggests the older root carried a note of derision from the start. The "-k" ending is a Old English suffix, similar to the pattern in "talk" and "stalk" from "tell" and "steal." "Smirks" is simply the third-person plural form of the verb "smirk," so it describes several people or things doing the same action at once, as in "the two of them smirk across the table."

Synonyms: grins, smiles, sneers, simpers, smirks

Antonyms: frowns, scowls, frowns, glares, glowers