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Fleer

//flɪə// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.
Noun
  1. 1
    Mockery; derision. archaic, uncountable

    "[…] And flattery tipt with nauseous fleer, And guilty shame, and servile fear, Envy, and cruelty, and pride, Will in your tainted heart preside."

  2. 2
    One who flees.

    "Which fear of the fleers away was no less ignominious, then if[…]they had turned their backs to the enemie."

  3. 3
    contempt expressed by mockery in looks or words wordnet
  4. 4
    someone who flees from an uncongenial situation wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn archaic

    "LEONATO. Tush, tush, man! never fleer and jest at me: I speak not like a dotard nor a fool, As, under privilege of age, to brag What I have done being young, or what would do, Were I not old."

  2. 2
    to smirk contemptuously wordnet
  3. 3
    To grin with an air of civility; to leer. archaic

    "In the time of popery, before the gospel came amongst us, we went to burials with weeping and wailing, as though there were no God: but since the gospel came unto us, I have heard say, that in some places they go with the corses grinning and flearing, as though they went to a bear-baiting;[…]"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Possibly from a Scandinavian source, compare Norwegian bokmål flire (“to giggle”), Jutish Danish flire.

Etymology 2

Possibly from a Scandinavian source, compare Norwegian bokmål flire (“to giggle”), Jutish Danish flire.

Etymology 3

From flee + -er.

See also for "fleer"

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