English
askance
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /əˈskæns/, /əˈskɑːns/
  • (America) IPA: /əˈskæns/
Adverb

askance (not comparable)

  1. (of a look or glance) With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.
    The beggar asked for change, but the haughty woman only looked at him askance.
    • 1932 — Clark Ashton Smith, The Maker of Gargoyles
      The scandal of opposition died down, and the stone-carver himself, though the town-folk continued to eye him askance, was able to secure other work through the favor of discriminating patrons.
    • Both […] were viewed askance by authority.
    • My palfrey eyed them askance.
  2. Sideways; obliquely.
Synonyms Translations Translations Adjective

askance (not comparable)

  1. Turned to the side, especially of the eyes.
    • 1855 — Robert Browning, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came
      My first thought was, he lied in every word,
      That hoary cripple, with malicious eye
      Askance to watch the working of his lie
Synonyms Verb

askance (askances, present participle askancing; past and past participle askanced)

  1. (rare, transitive) To look at (someone or something) with a sideways glance.
    • 1953, Lowry Charles Wimberly, Prairie Schooner (volume 27, page 406)
      Bowed heads, Aunt Ellen's, Aunt Laura's, her sister's — bowed but askancing her yellow dress — yes, yellow, golden yellow, hue of sun and life, Dad's favorite, to see him off on this, his greatest journey.
    • 1997, Tibor Fischer, The Thought Gang (page 185)
      "My dear sir," said Hube in an authoritative manner to the receptionist askancing Thales, "first of all, we aren't tourists. Secondly, this isn't a rat, this is the present embodiment of the spiritual leader of millions of people in India […]
  2. (rare, transitive) To turn (one's eye or gaze) to the side.


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