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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
smirk
verb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ 'You realise you'll be stuck out here on your own, don't you?' he smirked.
▪ She sits there smirking as if she's the only one who knows the answer
▪ What are you smirking at?
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Bonnie Jean made horns back and I smirked and shook my head.
▪ Cassius heard it and smirked to himself as he was ordered to rest the oars.
▪ Seth turned to Susan, smirking, and opened his leather jacket.
▪ She sat there smirking for a long time.
▪ She set out to cut down on smirking by creating more speaking roles.
▪ She was carrying an armful of cat-food cans and smirking to herself.
▪ The most widely distributed Shas tract shows a smirking Weizman standing next to a grim-looking Deri behind bars.
▪ With time to kill at the airport, I occupied myself smirking at travelers struggling with overcoats.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Smirk

Smirk \Smirk\, n. A forced or affected smile; a simper.

The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered.
--Sir W. Scott.

Smirk

Smirk \Smirk\, a. Nice,; smart; spruce; affected; simpering. ``So smirk, so smooth.''
--Spenser.

Smirk

Smirk \Smirk\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smirked; p. pr. & vb. n. Smirking.] [OE. smirken, ASS. smercian, smearcian; cf. MHG. smieren, smielen, to smile. See Smile, v. i.] To smile in an affected or conceited manner; to smile with affected complaisance; to simper.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
smirk

Old English smearcian "to smile." No exact cognates in other languages, but probably related to smerian "to laugh at, scorn," from Proto-Germanic *smer-, *smar-, variant of PIE *smei- "to smile;" see smile (v.), which after c.1500 gradually restricted smirk to the unpleasant sense "smile affectedly; grin in a malicious or smug way." In some 18c. glossaries smirk is still simply "to smile." Related: Smirked; smirking. The noun is recorded by 1560s.

smirk

1550s, from smirk (v.).

Wiktionary
smirk
  1. (context obsolete English) smart; spruce; affected; simpering n. 1 An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied or scornful. 2 A forced or affected smile; a simper. v

  2. To smile in a way that is affected, smug, insolent or contemptuous.

WordNet
smirk
  1. n. a smile expressing smugness or scorn instead of pleasure

  2. v. smile affectedly or derisively [syn: simper]

Wikipedia
Smirk

A smirk is a smile evoking insolence, scorn, or offensive smugness, falling into the category of what Desmond Morris described as Deformed-compliment Signals.

A smirk may also be an affected, ingratiating smile, as in Mr Bennet's description of Mr Wickham as making smirking love to all his new in-laws in the novel Pride and Prejudice.

Usage examples of "smirk".

And, damn it again, he smirked ever so slightly as if he knew exactly what had gone through my head.

The French hotel had a bidet, which Richard explained to me with the trace of a smirk after he caught me washing my feet in it.

In the cramped, candlelit room, the Cabalist crouched over him like a smirking vulture.

She smirked at him as she seductively raised her manacled hands upward, coyly brushing her breasts, only to throw her hair over one shoulder.

She booked a room, facing out the receptionist who smirked as she handed her the key, and as she walked back to join Sasanov, Davina thought suddenly that she had no qualm of embarrassment in paying for the use of a bed for a couple of hours.

Presently, his door dilated and Tammy appeared, a smirk on her face, casually holding a slave-remote in place of the stinger.

Dietrich Schill was deputed by the Club to sound the White Rose herself on the subject of Farina, and one afternoon in the vintage season, when she sat under the hot vine-poles among maiden friends, eating ripe grapes, up sauntered Dietrich, smirking, cap in hand, with his scroll trailed behind him.

She smirked but uncertainly, holding the gerbil in front of her like a protection.

But there were those who did: Zink, Jama, and Potipher were all smirking.

She pulled out a kerseymere shawl and spread it over her bare shoulders, then turned, smirking, as Harbord woke up.

But he continued pointing in silence at the old man, who was leering and smirking and ogling, in evident delight at being the centre of attention.

The other was short and fleshy, poised between youthful plumpness and middle-aged corpulence, with puddingy features set in a smirking face, the high colour of which suggested a toping disposition.

The westering sun, streaming in through floor-to-ceiling windows, freshed the gilt of the smirking naked cupids and cast a rosy glow over the shapes of pulchritudinous pink goddesses.

He saw that Neville was smirking at Dean and Seamus, who were looking very alarmed to see what appeared to be a full-grown lion before them.

Draco Malfoy Apparating into the space next to the dark wizard, carrying his broom still, smirking, He had heard what Harry said.