askance

alternative askaunce · alternative askant

1. not comparableOf a glance or look: with disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.

   The beggar asked for change, but the haughty woman only looked at him askance.

   4 more examples

   The scandal of opposition died down, and the stone-carver himself, though the town-folk continued to eye him askance, was able to secure other work through the favor of discriminating patrons.

   1932, Clark Ashton Smith, The Maker of Gargoyles

   Both […] were viewed askance by authority.

   1875, William Ewart Gladstone, The Church of England and Ritualism

   My palfrey eyed them askance.

   1828, Walter Savage Landor, “Lord Brooke and Sir Philip Sidney”, in Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC

   Even the Democrat voters that might look askance at a Green Party candidate, I want you guys to consider this.

   2026 April 22, Nathan J. Robinson, Butch Ware, “The Green Party’s Butch Ware: ‘I Love a Good Fight’”, in Current Affairs, archived from the original on 23 Apr 2026

   Synonyms: skeptically, suspiciously

2. not comparableObliquely, sideways.

   I glanced askance at this strange creature, and found him watching me with his queer, restless eyes.

   1896, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, chapter VIII, in The Island of Doctor Moreau (Heinemann’s Colonial Library of Popular Fiction; 52), London: William Heinemann, →OCLC; republished as The Island of Doctor Moreau: A Possibility, New York, N.Y.: Stone & Kimball, 1896, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   [S]he caſt her dewed eyes aſ kance, / And ſpying me, gan rovvſe her heauie head, / And praide me pen her ſad and heauie chance, / And ſhe recounted it that preſent ſted, […]

   1584, Thomas Lodge, “Truths Complaint ouer England”, in An Alarum against Usurers. […], London: […] T[homas] Este, for Sampson Clarke, […], →OCLC, folio 37, verso

   [T]he head-stones in the grave-yard beneath seemed to be holding themselves askance to keep it out of their faces.

   1878 July–October, Henry James, Jr., “(please specify the page)”, in The Europeans. A Sketch. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Macmillan and Co., published 1878, →OCLC

   Synonyms: asquint

alternative askaunce · alternative askant

1. not comparableTurned to the side, especially of the eyes.

   My first thought was, he lied in every word, That hoary cripple, with malicious eye Askance to watch the working of his lie

   1855, Robert Browning, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came

   Synonyms: oblique, sideways, askew

present singular third person askances · participle present askancing · participle past askanced · past askanced · alternative askaunce · alternative askant

1. raretransitiveTo look at (someone or something) with a sideways glance.

   Bowed heads, Aunt Ellen's, Aunt Laura's, her sister's — bowed but askancing her yellow dress — yes, yellow, golden yellow, hue of sun and life, Dad's favorite, to see him off on this, his greatest journey.

   1953, Lowry Charles Wimberly, Prairie Schooner, volume 27, page 406

   1 more example

   "My dear sir," said Hube in an authoritative manner to the receptionist askancing Thales, "first of all, we aren't tourists. Secondly, this isn't a rat, this is the present embodiment of the spiritual leader of millions of people in India […]

   1997, Tibor Fischer, The Thought Gang, page 185

2. raretransitiveTo turn (one's eye or gaze) to the side.

   The pope askanced his eye at Michael with displeasure, and after a short pause saluted him, " Instead of your coming to us, you seem to have expected that we should attend upon you."

   1826, William Hone, The Every Day Book, Or, A Guide to the Year