Word Study
askance
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Adjective askance has 1 sense
- askance(s = adj.all) askant, asquint, sidelong, squint, squint-eyed, squinty - (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"; "sidelong glances"
Adverbial askance has 2 senses
CIDE DICTIONARY
askance, adv. [Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint.].
Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or suspicion. [1913 Webster]
"They dart away; they wheel askance."
[1913 Webster]
"My palfrey eyed them askance."
[1913 Webster]
"Both . . . were viewed askance by authority."
[1913 Webster]
askance, v. t.
To turn aside. [1913 Webster]
"O, how are they wrapped in with infamies
That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes!" [1913 Webster]
That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes!" [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
askance, adv. (also askant) sideways or squinting.
Idiom
look askance at regard with suspicion or disapproval.
Etymology
16th c.: orig. unkn.
THESAURUS
askance
aside, askant, askew, asquint, awry, broadside, broadside on, cam, captiously, censoriously, cock-a-hoop, cockeyed, crabwise, critically, crookedly, cynically, disapprovingly, distrustfully, doubtfully, doubtingly, edgeway, edgeways, edgewise, glancingly, laterad, laterally, on its side, on the beam, reproachfully, right and left, sideling, sidelong, sideward, sidewards, sideway, sideways, sidewise, sidling, skeptically, suspiciously, unfavorably
For further exploring for "askance" in Webster Dictionary Online
