smirk

English

Alternative forms

• smerk (dated)

Etymology

A smirk

From Middle English smirken, from Old English smercian, smearcian (“to smile, smirk”), corresponding to smerian + -cian (English -k), the former element from Proto-Germanic *smarōną (“to mock, scoff at”), and the latter from Proto-Germanic *-kōną. Compare Middle High German smielen/smieren (“to smile”) ( > obsolete, rare German schmieren).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /smɜːk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /smɝk/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)k

Noun

smirk (plural smirks)

1. an uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied or scornful
2. a forced or affected smile; a simper
   • 1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. In Three Volumes, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), Edinburgh: Printed by James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, OCLC 270129598:

     The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered.

Derived terms

• smirker
• smirkily
• smirkingly
• smirky

 

Translations

smile that is insolent, offensively self-satisfied or scornful

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Czech: úšklebek m
• Dutch: grijnslach (nl)
• Finnish: virne, virnistys (fi), omahyväinen hymy
• French: sourire en coin m, ricanerie (fr) f
• Irish: leamh-mheangadh m, straois f, streill f, siotgháire m

• Italian: smorfia (it) f, sorrisetto m
• Russian: ухмы́лка (ru) (uxmýlka)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: кес m

  Roman: kes (sh) m

• Spanish: sonrisita f, mueca (es) f, sonrisa de suficiencia f, sonrisa complacida f, sonrisa de satisfacción f, sonrisa de complicidad f, sonrisa satisfecha, sonrisa de superioridad
• Welsh: cilwen (cy) f

Verb

smirk (third-person singular simple present smirks, present participle smirking, simple past and past participle smirked)

1. To smile in a way that is affected, smug, insolent or contemptuous.

Synonyms

• simper
• shit-eating grin (vulgar)

Translations

to smile in a way that is affected, smug, insolent or contemptuous

• Bulgarian: подсмихвам се (podsmihvam se)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Czech: ušklíbnout se
• Dutch: grijnzen (nl), meesmuilen (nl)
• Finnish: virnistää, hymyillä omahyväisesti
• French: ricaner (fr)

• Ido: ridetar (io)
• Italian: sogghignare (it)
• Navajo: biniiʼ yiyoołdloh
• Russian: ухмыляться (ru) (uxmyljatʹsja)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: ке́сити се

  Roman: kesiti se (sh)

• Spanish: sonreír con suficiencia

Adjective

smirk (comparative more smirk, superlative most smirk)

1. (obsolete) smart; spruce; affected; simpering
   • (Can we date this quote by Spenser and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     So smirk, so smooth.

Anagrams

• skrim