Simpering
/ˈsɪm.pər.ɪŋ/noun
Smiling in a coy, affected, or ingratiating way.
Did you know?Simper is believed to be a frequentative or expressive formation in English, likely tied to older words for smiling or grinning, which is why it sounds like a tiny, insincere spell of politeness.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
simperen
“to smile in a foolish, affected, or coy way”
16th Century
English
simper
“a soft, silly, or affected smile”
Modern English
English
simpering
“smiling in a coy, ingratiating, or affected way”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*smey-
“to laugh or smile”