askance - adverb
Usually describes the act of looking or glancing; with suspicion or mistrust, as in He looked askance at his boss, who seemed to bring bad tidings.
“Do you suppose he can possibly recover?” said Levin, watching a slender tress at the back of her round little head that was continually hidden when she passed the comb through the front.
”I asked the doctor; he said he couldn’t live more than three days. But can they be sure? I’m very glad, any way, that I persuaded him,” she said, looking askance at her husband through her hair. “Anything is possible,” she added with that peculiar, rather sly expression that was always in her face when she spoke of religion.
—Leo Tolstoy Anna Karenin (1877)
Note: You may download the Grammar eBook Build Your Vocabulary and get all 406 vocabulary words.
Next Word: assiduous Previous Word: ascetic
Have a discussion about this article with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In