askance

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈskæns/, /əˈskɑːns/ (UK); /əˈskæns/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

Its origin is obscure.^[2][3][4][5] Barnhart derives it from Middle English ascaunce “as if, pretending that”,^[6][3] an alteration of ase quances “in such a way that”,^[6][3] from as and Old French quanses (“as though”),^[6][3] from Latin quamsi, a variant of quasi “as if”.^[6] The OED, however, treats the two words separately and does not connect them.^[3] Other guesses include Italian a scancio “obliquely” and a link with askew.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Sideways, askew, with a side glance (1530).^[6][3][7][4]

Semantic evolution

In the phrases to look askance and to eye askance (from 1579) the meaning varied between writers,^[7] but it settled on looking at someone or something with disapproval, suspicion or distrust.^[2][4][5]

Timeline

• before 1333 – ase quances “even as”.^[6]
• about 1395 – ascaunce “as if”.^[6]
• 1530 – askance, sideways.^[6][7]
• 1579 – to look askance.^[7]

Modern meaning

Adverb

1. With disapproval, suspicion or distrust.
2. With a side glance; obliquely.

Related words

• askew
• askant
• quasi

Usage notes

Random House lists skeptically and suspiciously as synonyms.^[5] Merriam-Webster and Random House give askant as a variant.^[4][5]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
7. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press