snivel

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: sniv=el

CIDE DICTIONARY

snivel, v. i. [OE. snivelen, snevelen, snuvelen, freg. of sneven. See Sniff, and cf. Snuffle.].

•  To run at the nose; to make a snuffling noise.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cry or whine with snuffling, as children; to cry weakly or whiningly.  [1913 Webster]

  "Put stop to thy sniveling ditty."  [1913 Webster]

snivel, n. [AS. snofel. Cf. Snivel, v. i.].

 Mucus from the nose; snot.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

snivel, v. & n.
--v.intr. (snivelled, snivelling; US sniveled, sniveling)
1 weep with sniffling.
2 run at the nose; make a repeated sniffing sound.
3 show weak or tearful sentiment.
--n.
1 running mucus.
2 hypocritical talk; cant.

Derivative

sniveller n. snivelling adj. snivellingly adv.

Etymology

ME f. OE snyflan (unrecorded) f. snofl mucus: cf. SNUFFLE

THESAURUS

snivel

bawl, be hypocritical, blandish, blubber, boohoo, break down, burst into tears, cant, cry, dissolve in tears, drop a tear, give lip service, give mouth honor, greet, mewl, mouth, play the hypocrite, pule, reek of piety, render lip service, shed tears, sniffle, snuffle, sob, soft-soap, sweet-talk, weep, whimper, whine

ROGET THESAURUS

snivel

Lamentation

VB lament, mourn, deplore, grieve, weep over, bewail, bemoan, condole with, fret, wear mourning, go into mourning, put on mourning, wear the willow, wear sackcloth and ashes, infandum renovare dolorem, give sorrow words, sigh, give a sigh, heave, fetch a sigh, waft a sigh from Indus to the pole, sigh 'like a furnace', wail, cry, weep, sob, greet, blubber, pipe, snivel, bibber, whimper, pule, pipe one's eye, drop tears, shed tears, drop a tear, shed a tear, melt into tears, burst into tears, fondre en larmes, cry oneself blind, cry one's eyes out, yammer, scream, mew, groan, moan, whine, roar, roar like a bull, bellow like a bull, cry out lustily, rend the air, frown, scowl, make a wry face, gnash one's teeth, wring one's hands, tear one's hair, beat one's breast, roll on the ground, burst with grief, complain, murmur, mutter, grumble, growl, clamor, make a fuss about, croak, grunt, maunder, deprecate, cry out before one is hurt, complain without cause.