Lexic.us

Definition of Grimace

1. Noun. A contorted facial expression. "She made a grimace at the prospect"

2. Verb. Contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state. "He grimaced when he saw the amount of homework he had to do"

Definition of Grimace

1. n. 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.

2. v. i. To make grimaces; to distort one's face; to make faces.

Definition of Grimace

1. Noun. 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. ¹

2. Verb. To make grimaces; to distort one's face; to make faces. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Grimace

1. to contort the facial features [v -MACED, -MACING, -MACES]

Medical Definition of Grimace

1. A distortion of the countenance, whether habitual, from affectation, or momentary aad occasional, to express some feeling, as contempt, disapprobation, complacency, etc.; a smirk; a made-up face. "Moving his face into such a hideons grimace, that every feature of it appeared under a different distortion." (Addison) "Half the French words used affectedly by Melantha in Dryden's "Marriage a-la-Mode," as innovations in our language, are now in common usa: chagrin, doubleentendre, eclaircissement, embarras, equivoque, foible, grimace, naivete, ridicule. All these words, which she learns by heart to use occasionally, are now in common use." Origin: F, prob. Of Teutonic origin; cf. AS. Grma mask, specter, Ical. Grma mask, hood, perh. Akin to E. Grin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Grimace

grillery grilles grillework grilling grillings grillroom grillrooms grills grillsteak grillsteaks

grillwork grillworks grilse grilses grim grimaced grimacer grimacers grimaces grimacing

grimacingly grimaldiite grimalkin grimalkins grime grimed grimes grimier grimiest

Literary usage of Grimace

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant: Embracing English, American, and Anglo by Charles Godfrey Leland (1889)
"The late Mr. HJ Byron, the actor, very popular in his time, says this phrase has reference to a grimace which be used to make, and which was called pulling ..."

2. The Pursuits of Literature: A Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues, with Notes by Thomas James Mathias (1801)
"... Or Erskine cease from impotent grimace, And them to be capable, in their high functions, to maintain and adorn the principles of happiness, and safety, ..."

3. Benjamin Disraeli: An Unconventional Biography by Wilfrid Meynell (1903)
"Yet the Comic Spirit shall not be grudged one last grimace. Mr. Sydney, presenting the old Westminster Club's papers to the Reform Club Library, ..."

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