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Definitions for: Grimace [n] a contorted facial expression; "she made a grimace at the prospect"
[v] contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state; "He grimaced when he saw the amount of homework he had to do"
Webster (1913) Definition: Gri*mace" (gr[i^]*m[=a]s"), n. [F., prob. of Teutonic
origin; cf. AS. gr[imac]ma mask, specter, Icel. gr[imac]ma
mask, hood, perh. akin to E. grin.]
A distortion of the countenance, whether habitual, from
affectation, or momentary aad occasional, to express some
feeling, as contempt, disapprobation, complacency, etc.; a
smirk; a made-up face.
Moving his face into such a hideous grimace, that every
feature of it appeared under a different distortion.
--Addison.
Note: ``Half the French words used affectedly by Melantha in
Dryden's ``Marriage a-la-Mode,'' as innovations in our
language, are now in common use: chagrin,
double-entendre, ['e]claircissement, embarras,
['e]quivoque, foible, grimace, na["i]vete, ridicule.
All these words, which she learns by heart to use
occasionally, are now in common use.'' --I. Disraeli.
Gri*mace", v. i.
To make grimaces; to distort one's face; to make faces. --H.
Martineau.
Synonyms: face, make a face, pull a face
See Also: communicate, cross one's eyes, facial expression, facial gesture, frown, glower, intercommunicate, lour, lower, mop, moue, mow, pout, pout, screw up, smile, squinch, squint, wince, wry face
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