Word Study
Smile
CIDE DICTIONARY
Smile, v. i. [OE. smilen; akin to Dan. smile, Sw. smila, MHG. smielen, smieren, L. mirari to wonder at, Skr. smi to smile; and probably to E. smicker. Admire, Marvel, Smirk.].
- To express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness, by the features of the face; to laugh silently. [1913 Webster]"He doth nothing but frown. . . . He hears merry tales and smiles not." [1913 Webster]"She smiled to see the doughty hero slain." [1913 Webster]"When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled." [1913 Webster]
- To express slight contempt by a look implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer. [1913 Webster]"'T was what I said to Craggs and Child,
Who praised my modesty, and smiled." [1913 Webster] - To look gay and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy; as, smiling spring; smiling plenty. [1913 Webster]"The desert smiled,
And paradise was opened in the wild." [1913 Webster] - To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance; -- often with on; as, to smile on one's labors. [1913 Webster]
Smile, v. t.
- To express by a smile; as, to smile consent; to smile a welcome to visitors. [1913 Webster]
- To affect in a certain way with a smile. [1913 Webster]"And sharply smile prevailing folly dead." [1913 Webster]
- The act of smiling; a peculiar change or brightening of the face, which expresses pleasure, moderate joy, mirth, approbation, or kindness; -- opposed to
frown . [1913 Webster]"Sweet intercourse
Of looks and smiles: for smiles from reason flow." [1913 Webster] - A somewhat similar expression of countenance, indicative of satisfaction combined with malevolent feelings, as contempt, scorn, etc; as, a scornful smile. [1913 Webster]
- Favor; countenance; propitiousness; as, the smiles of Providence. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Gay or joyous appearance; as, the smiles of spring. [1913 Webster]"The brightness of their [the flowers'] smile was gone." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Smile, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. relax the features into a pleased or kind or gently sceptical expression or a forced imitation of these, usu. with the lips parted and the corners of the mouth turned up.
2 tr. express by smiling (smiled their consent).
3 tr. give (a smile) of a specified kind (smiled a sardonic smile).
4 intr. (foll. by on, upon) adopt a favourable attitude towards; encourage (fortune smiled on me).
5 intr. have a bright or favourable aspect (the smiling countryside).
6 tr. (foll. by away) drive (a person's anger etc.) away (smiled their tears away).
7 intr. (foll. by at) a ridicule or show indifference to (smiled at my feeble attempts). b favour; smile on.
8 tr. (foll. by into, out of) bring (a person) into or out of a specified mood etc. by smiling (smiled them into agreement).
--n.
1 the act or an instance of smiling.
2 a smiling expression or aspect.
--v.
1 intr. relax the features into a pleased or kind or gently sceptical expression or a forced imitation of these, usu. with the lips parted and the corners of the mouth turned up.
2 tr. express by smiling (smiled their consent).
3 tr. give (a smile) of a specified kind (smiled a sardonic smile).
4 intr. (foll. by on, upon) adopt a favourable attitude towards; encourage (fortune smiled on me).
5 intr. have a bright or favourable aspect (the smiling countryside).
6 tr. (foll. by away) drive (a person's anger etc.) away (smiled their tears away).
7 intr. (foll. by at) a ridicule or show indifference to (smiled at my feeble attempts). b favour; smile on.
8 tr. (foll. by into, out of) bring (a person) into or out of a specified mood etc. by smiling (smiled them into agreement).
--n.
1 the act or an instance of smiling.
2 a smiling expression or aspect.
Idiom
come up smiling colloq. recover from adversity and cheerfully face what is to come.
Derivative
smileless adj. smiler n. smiley adj. smilingly adv.
Etymology
ME perh. f. Scand., rel. to SMIRK: cf. OHG smilenter
THESAURUS
Smile
accost, address, be in heaven, be pleased, beam, bob, bow, bright smile, broad grin, caper, caracole, chirp, chirrup, crack a smile, curtsy, dance, delight, die with delight, ear-to-ear grin, embrace, feel happy, frolic, gambol, gleaming smile, glow, glowing smile, go into raptures, greeting, grin, grinning, hail, hand-clasp, handshake, hello, how-do-you-do, hug, idiotic grin, joy, kiss, laugh, lilt, nod, purr, radiate cheer, romp, salutation, salute, sardonic grin, simper, sing, skip, smile brightly, smile of recognition, smiling, smirk, sparkle, stupid grin, take great satisfaction, toothful grin, tread on air, wave, whistleROGET THESAURUS
Smile
Cheerfulness
VB be cheerful, have the mind at ease, smile, put a good face upon, keep up one's spirits, view the bright side of the picture, view things en couleur de rose, ridentem dicere virum, cheer up, brighten up, light up, bear up, chirp, take heart, cast away care, drive dull care away, perk up, keep a stiff upper lip, rejoice, carol, chirrup, lilt, frisk, rollick, give a loose to mirth, cheer, enliven, elate, exhilarate, gladden, inspirit, animate, raise the spirits, inspire, perk up, put in good humor, cheer the heart, rejoice the heart, delight.Rejoicing
N rejoicing, exultation, triumph, jubilation, heyday, flush, revelling, merrymaking, jubilee, paean, Te Deum, congratulation, smile, simper, smirk, grin, broad grin, sardonic grin, laughter (amusement), risibility, derision, Momus, Democritus the Abderite, rollicker, rejoicing, jubilant, exultant, triumphant, flushed, elated, pleased, delighted, tickled pink, amused, cheerful, laughable, Int, hurrah!, Huzza!, aha!, hail!, tolderolloll!, Heaven be praised!, io triumphe!, tant mieux!, so much the better, the heart leaping with joy, ce n'est pas etre bien aise que de rire, Laughter holding both his sides, le roi est mort, vive le roi, with his eyes in flood with laughter.Amusement
VB amuse, entertain, divert, enliven, tickle the fancy, titillate, raise a smile, put in good humor, cause laughter, create laughter, occasion laughter, raise laughter, excite laughter, produce laughter, convulse with laughter, set the table in a roar, be the death of one, recreate, solace, cheer, rejoice, please, interest, treat, regale, amuse oneself, game, play a game, play pranks, play tricks, sport, disport, toy, wanton, revel, junket, feast, carouse, banquet, make merry, drown care, drive dull care away, frolic, gambol, frisk, romp, caper, dance, keep up the ball, run a rig, sow one's wild oats, have one's fling, take one's pleasure, paint the town red, see life, desipere in loco, play the fool, make holiday, keep holiday, go a Maying, while away the time, beguile the time, kill time, dally, smile, simper, smirk, grin, grin like a Cheshire cat, mock, laugh in one's sleeve, laugh, laugh outright, giggle, titter, snigger, crow, snicker, chuckle, cackle, burst out, burst into a fit of laughter, shout, split, roar, shake one's sides, split one's sides, hold both one's sides, roar with laughter, die with laughter.For further exploring for "Smile" in Webster Dictionary Online