Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

askance

/əˈskæns/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.10 in modern English

Syllables: askance
IPA: /əˈskæns/

13

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Of a glance or look: with disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.

adv

Obliquely, sideways.

adj

Turned to the side, especially of the eyes.

verb

To look at (someone or something) with a sideways glance.

Transitive verb

verb

To turn (one's eye or gaze) to the side.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"The beggar asked for change, but the haughty woman only looked at him askance."
"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."
"Even the Democrat voters that might look askance at a Green Party candidate, I want you guys to consider this."
"[S]he caſt her dewed eyes aſ kance, / And ſpying me, gan rovvſe her heauie head, / And praide me pen her ſad and heauie chance, / And ſhe recounted it that preſent ſted, […]"

Etymology

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”).

Origin

Source language: Old French

Word Breakdown

Root: a escone, a scancio

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əˈskæns/
British English: /əˈskæns/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

askaunce (alternative) askant (alternative) askances (present, singular) askancing (participle, present) askanced (participle, past) askanced (past)

Phrases

look askance

Synonyms

skeptically suspiciously asquint oblique sideways askew askant squint squint-eyed squinty sidelong

Rhymes With

chance france dance advance finance romance stance enhance lance glance trance vance

Questions

How do you pronounce askance?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈskæns/.
What does askance mean?: Of a glance or look: with disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.
Where does askance come from?: It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce askance

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “askance”.
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