In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
SNEERS
Verb
sneers
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of sneer
Source: Wiktionary
SNEER
Sneer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sneering.] Etym: [OE. sneren, Dan. sn to snarl or grin (like a dog); cf. Prov. E. sneer to grin, sner to snort, snert to sneer at. See Snore, v. i.]
1. To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression.
2. To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively. I could be content to be a little sneared at. Pope.
3. To show mirth awkwardly. [R.] Tatler.
Syn.
– To scoff; gibe; jeer.
– Sneer, Scoff, Jeer. The verb to sneer implies to cast contempt indirectly or by covert expressions. To jeer is stronger, and denotes the use of several sarcastic reflections. To scoff is stronger still, implying the use of insolent mockery and derision. And sneers as learnedly as they, Like females o'er their morning tea. Swift. Midas, exposed to all their jeers, Had lost his art, and kept his ears. Swift. The fop, with learning at defiance, Scoffs at the pedant and science. Gay.
Sneer, v. t.
1. To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person. Congreve. "A ship of fools," he sneered. Tennyson.
2. To treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers. Nor sneered nor bribed from virtue into shame. Savage.
Sneer, n.
1. The act of sneering.
2. A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt. "Who can refute a sneer" Raley.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
27 March 2025
SUCCESS
(noun) an event that accomplishes its intended purpose; “let’s call heads a success and tails a failure”; “the election was a remarkable success for the Whigs”
Coffee Trivia
