gloat English · revision 1174

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡləʊt/ ''(UK)''; /ɡloʊt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is perhaps of Scandinavian origin;^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) compare [[non|glotta|t=to grin scornfully]] and Swedish dialect ''glutta'' “to peep”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Etymonline takes it as a variant of earlier ''glout'' “to stare, scowl” (mid-15th century),^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and compares German ''glotzen'' “to stare”.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It belongs with [[glower]] and other Germanic ''gl-'' words for looking.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To look with a furtive or sidelong glance (1575).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From 1676 the verb meant to cast amorous or admiring glances,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and from 1748 to gaze or dwell with intense, usually malicious or greedy, satisfaction.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The OED notes that the last sense is now almost the only one.^(OED 1989) The noun meant a side-glance in 1645,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and an act of gloating from 1899.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1575 – to look askance or furtively.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1645 – noun, a side-glance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1676 – to cast admiring glances.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1748 – to dwell on with malicious pleasure.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1899 – noun, an act of gloating.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To feel or show great, often [[malice|alt=malicious]], pleasure or [[smug]] satisfaction, as over another's misfortune.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' To look or glance admiringly or amorously.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or feeling of gloating.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gloater]]

+ * [[gloatingly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[glower]]

+ * [[glare]]

+ * [[gloom]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House refers ''gloat'' to its synonym discussion at ''glare''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}