Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

askance

/əˈskæns/ adjective

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about askance at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

(used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy.
her eyes with their misted askance look

adverb

With suspicion or disapproval.
he looked askance at the offer
With a side or oblique glance.
did not quite turn all the way back but looked askance at me with her dark eyes

Origin

Unknown. Possibly from Middle English askances (“as if”), or from Old French a escone (“hidden”) or Italian a scancio (“obliquely”). Compare asquint, Middle English askoyn (“at a slant, askance”), Dutch schuin, schuins (“sideways”), schuiven (“to shove”), schuinte (“slope”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word