askance

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   with a side or oblique glance

   They did not quite turn all the way back but looked askance at me with their dark eyes.

2. 2
   adv

   with suspicion or disapproval

   I looked askance at the offer.

3. 3
   adj

   directed to one side with, or as if with doubt, suspicion, or envy, used especially of glances

   My eyes gave an askance look.

4. 4
   adv

   With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.

   The beggar asked for change, but the haughty woman only looked at him askance.

Unknown. Possibly from Middle English askances (“as if”), or from Old French a escone (“hidden”) or Italian a scancio (“obliquely”). Compare asquint, Middle English askoyn (“at a slant, askance”), Dutch schuin, schuins (“sideways”), schuiven (“to shove”), schuinte (“slope”).

Topics