Grimace

Grimace
Grimace Gri*mace" (gr[i^]m"[i^]s or gr[i^]*m[=a]s"), n. [F., prob. of Teutonic origin; cf. AS. gr[imac]ma mask, specter, Icel. gr[imac]ma mask, hood, perh. akin to E. grin.] A distortion of the countenance, whether habitual, from affectation, or momentary and occasional, to express some feeling, as contempt, disapprobation, complacency, etc.; a smirk; a made-up face. [1913 Webster]

Moving his face into such a hideous grimace, that every feature of it appeared under a different distortion. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

Note: ``Half the French words used affectedly by Melantha in Dryden's ``Marriage a-la-Mode,'' as innovations in our language, are now in common use: chagrin, double-entendre, ['e]claircissement, embarras, ['e]quivoque, foible, grimace, na["i]vete, ridicule. All these words, which she learns by heart to use occasionally, are now in common use.'' --I. Disraeli. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • grimace — [ grimas ] n. f. • grimache fin XIVe; a. fr. grimuche (1202); probablt du frq. °grima « masque » 1 ♦ Expression caricaturale du visage due à la contraction de certains muscles faciaux. Les grimaces comiques d un clown. Faire une grimace à qqn par …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • grimace — GRIMACE. s. f. Contorsion de visage qui se fait souvent par affectation. Laide grimace. vilaine, horrible grimace. Il signifie fig. Feinte, dissimulation. Ce qu il en fait, ce n est que par grimace, pure grimace. s il n est pas homme de bien, il… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • grimace — meaning ‘a distortion of the face’ or ‘to make a grimace’, is most commonly stressed (especially when a verb) on the second syllable, as gri mays. First syllable stress, as grim ǝs, is also used, especially in AmE …   Modern English usage

  • grimace — [n] scowling facial expression face, frown, moue, mouth, mouthing, mug*, scowl, smile, smirk, sneer, wry face; concept 716 Ant. grin, smile grimace [v] make a pained expression contort, deform, distort, frown, make a face, make a wry face,… …   New thesaurus

  • grimace — ► NOUN ▪ an ugly, twisted expression on a person s face, expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement. ► VERB ▪ make a grimace. ORIGIN French, from Spanish grima fright …   English terms dictionary

  • Grimace — Gri*mace , v. i. To make grimaces; to distort one s face; to make faces. H. Martineau. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Grimace — may refer to: *A character in McDonaldland *A type of facial expression *A French composer active in the mid to late 14th century …   Wikipedia

  • grimace — [gri mās′, grim′is] n. [Fr, altered (with pejorative suffix) < OFr grimuche, prob. < Frank * grima, a mask, akin to OE grima: see GRIME] a twisting or distortion of the face, as in expressing pain, contempt, disgust, etc., or a wry look as… …   English World dictionary

  • grimace — (gri ma s ) s. f. 1°   Contorsion du visage faite involontairement ou volontairement et à dessein. •   Vous n avez que faire de hocher la tête et de me faire la grimace, MOL. G. Dand. II, 3. •   On ne conçoit la mort que sous l idée de la grimace …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Grimace — Une grimace est une contorsion du visage faite le plus souvent volontairement. Des grimaces à destination humoristique. Sommaire 1 Étymologie …   Wikipédia en Français

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