Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
ASKANCE
askance, askant, asquint, squint, squint-eyed, squinty, sidelong
(adjective) (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy; “her eyes with their misted askance look”- Elizabeth Bowen; “sidelong glances”
askance
(adverb) with a side or oblique glance; “did not quite turn all the way back but looked askance at me with her dark eyes”
askance
(adverb) with suspicion or disapproval; “he looked askance at the offer”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adverb
askance (not comparable)
(of a look or glance) With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.
Sideways; obliquely.
Synonyms
• (with disapproval, skepticism): skeptically, suspiciously
• (sideways, obliquely): obliquely, sideways
Adjective
askance (not comparable)
Turned to the side, especially of the eyes.
Synonyms
• (turned to the side): oblique, sideways, askew
Verb
askance (third-person singular simple present askances, present participle askancing, simple past and past participle askanced)
(rare, transitive) To look at (someone or something) with a sideways glance.
(rare, transitive) To turn (one's eye or gaze) to the side.
Source: Wiktionary
A*skance", A*skant", adv. Etym: [Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint.]
Definition: Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or suspicion. They dart away; they wheel askance. Beattie. My palfrey eyed them askance. Landor. Both . . . were viewed askance by authority. Gladstone.
A*skance", v. t.
Definition: To turn aside. [Poet.] O, how are they wrapped in with infamies That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes! Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
9 May 2025
RIGHT
(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”
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