fleer

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Possibly from a Scandinavian source, compare Norwegian bokmål flire (to giggle), Jutish Danish flire.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (UK) IPA(key): /flɪə(ɹ)/
  • (US) IPA(key): /flɪɚ/
    • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

Verb[edit]

fleer (third-person singular simple present fleers, present participle fleering, simple past and past participle fleered)

  1. (archaic) To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn
    Synonyms: deride, sneer, mock, gibe; see also Thesaurus:deride
  2. (archaic) To grin with an air of civility; to leer.
    Synonyms: fligger; see also Thesaurus:to smile
    • 1552, Hugh Latimer, The Fifth Sermon Preached on the Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Trinity, 1552; republished in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God, and Constant Martyr of Jesus Christ, Hugh Latimer, Some Time Bishop of Worcester, volume 2, London: James Duncan, 1824, page 212:
      In the time of popery, before the gospel came amongst us, we went to burials with weeping and wailing, as though there were no God: but since the gospel came unto us, I have heard say, that in some places they go with the corses grinning and flearing, as though they went to a bear-baiting; []
Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

fleer (uncountable)

  1. (archaic) Mockery; derision.

Etymology 2[edit]

From flee +‎ -er.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

fleer (plural fleers)

  1. One who flees.
    • 1598, R. Grenewey, Annales, translation of original by Tacitus:
      Which fear of the fleers away was no less ignominious, then if [] they had turned their backs to the enemie.

Anagrams[edit]