smile English · revision 4140

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=ine-pro *smey-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /smaɪl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|smilen]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) of uncertain origin:^(Barnhart 1988) perhaps [[der|gml|*smilen]]^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) or from a Scandinavian source, compare Swedish smila “to smile, smirk” and Danish smile.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) It is reconstructed as Proto-Germanic *smil-, an extended form of [[ine-pro|*smey-|alt=*smei-|t=to laugh, smile]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) the source also of Sanskrit smáyate “he smiles”, Greek meidiân “to smile”, Latin mīrus “wonderful” and mīrārī “to wonder”, Old Church Slavonic smijati sę “to laugh” and Old English smerian “to laugh at, scorn”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[smirk]], [[marvel]] and [[miracle]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To give the face a look of pleasure or amusement: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and about 1303 in Barnhart, implied in smylyng “pleasant”, with the surname Smyles from 1301.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It gradually pushed the usual Old English word, smearcian, modern [[smirk]], into a specific unpleasant sense.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) In Middle English ''to smile still'' (about 1400) was to smile to oneself.^(Etymonline) Figuratively, of Fortune and the like, “to look on with favour”, it is from about 1400,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and of the eyes from 1759.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun is from the mid-15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1562 in John Heywood's Epigrams and Proverbs according to Barnhart and the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) As colloquial American slang a smile was a drink, especially of whisky, from 1839.^(OED 1989) The saying ''smile and the world smiles with you'' is by 1884, in newspaper poetry.^(Etymonline) In northern dialect, to smile was to mantle or froth, of beer, and a smile was the head on beer.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – verb, to smile.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – to look on with favour.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – noun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1759 – of the eyes.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1839 – a drink of whisky.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1884 – ''smile and the world smiles with you''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A facial expression in which the corners of the [[mouth]] curve upward, showing pleasure, amusement or scorn.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A pleasant or favourable disposition or aspect.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To have or form a smile.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To look with favour or approval: ''fortune smiled on us''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To express with a smile: ''smiled her thanks''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[smiler]]

+ * [[smilingly]]

+ * [[smilingness]]

+ * [[smileless]]

+ * [[smilelessly]]

+ * [[smilelessness]]

+ * [[smiley]]

+ * [[subsmile]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[smirk]]

+ * [[marvel]]

+ * [[miracle]]

+ * [[mirror]]

+ * [[admire]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage calls smile the most general of the words for such expressions, covering feelings from affection to malice, against grin, simper and smirk.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}