fleer

¹ American  

[fleer] / flɪər /

verb (used without object)

1. to grin or laugh coarsely or mockingly.

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verb (used with object)

1. to mock or deride.

noun

1. a fleering look; a jeer or gibe.

fleer ² American  

[flee-er] / ˈfli ər /

noun

1. a person who flees.

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fleer British  

/ flɪə /

verb

1. to grin or laugh at; scoff; sneer

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noun

1. a derisory glance or grin

Other Word Forms

• fleeringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of fleer¹

1350–1400; Middle English flerien (v.) < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian flire a grin

Origin of fleer²

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; flee, -er ¹

Example Sentences

And cannot I likewise, when time serves, and company is disposed to be kindly affected with it, smile and fleer as takingly?

From History of English Humour, Vol. 1 With an Introduction upon Ancient Humour by L'Estrange, Alfred Guy Kingan

To flewer or fleer is to smile in that grinning manner which shows all the teeth.

From It Might Have Been The Story of the Gunpowder Plot by Irwin, M. (Madelaine)

He had discussed everything under heaven in his brilliant, erratic way, with a fleer of cynicism toward it all, but he had left himself out completely.

From O. Henry Memorial Award Prize Stories of 1920 by Various

She gave a light laugh that had in it so little mirth, was so little apposite to ridicule, that he did not feel it a fleer.

From The Storm Centre by Murfree, Mary Noailles

"Durn my boots ef I didn't furgit the password!" cried Nick Peters with his little falsetto laugh, that seemed keyed for a fleer, although it was most graciously modulated now.

From The Mystery of Witch-Face Mountain and Other Stories by Murfree, Mary Noailles