Askance
/əˈskæns/noun
With a sideways or skeptical glance; indirectly or suspiciously.
Did you know?Askance likely came into English through a Scandinavian-influenced form meaning “sideways,” and its eerie vibe comes from the physical act of not meeting someone’s eyes straight on.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*skēwaz
“sideways, oblique”
Old Norse
ON
skeifr
“crooked, askew”
Middle English
ME
askance
“sideways; with a sidelong look”
16th Century
English
askance
“with a sidelong glance or indirectly”
Modern English
English
askance
“with suspicion, disapproval, or a sideways glance”