Frown definitions

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FROWN, v.i.
1. To express displeasure by contracting the brow, and looking grim or surly; to look stern; followed by on or at; as, to frown on a profligate man, or to frown at his vices.
Heroes in animated marble frown.
2. To manifest, displeasure in any manner. When providence frowns on our labors, let us be humble and submissive.
3. To lower; to look threatening.
FROWN, v.t. To repel by expressing displeasure; to rebuke. Frown the impudent fellow into silence.
FROWN, n.
1. A wrinkled look, particularly expressing dislike; a sour,severe or stern look, expressive of displeasure.
His front yet threatens and his frowns command.
2. Any expression of displeasure; as the frowns of providence; the frown of fortune.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a facial expression of dislike or displeasure [syn: frown, scowl] v
1: look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval [syn: frown, glower, lour, lower]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English frounen, from Middle French frogner to snort, frown, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh ffroen nostril, Old Irish srón nose Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. to contract the brow in displeasure or concentration 2. to give evidence of displeasure or disapproval by or as if by facial expression <critics frown on the idea> transitive verb to show displeasure with or disapproval of especially by facial expression • frowner noun • frowningly adverb II. noun Date: 1581 1. an expression of displeasure 2. a wrinkling of the brow in displeasure or concentration

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 intr. wrinkle one's brows, esp. in displeasure or deep thought. 2 intr. (foll. by at, on, upon) express disapproval. 3 intr. (of a thing) present a gloomy aspect. 4 tr. compel with a frown (frowned them into silence). 5 tr. express (defiance etc.) with a frown. --n. 1 an action of frowning; a vertically furrowed or wrinkled state of the brow. 2 a look expressing severity, disapproval, or deep thought. Derivatives: frowner n. frowningly adv. Etymology: ME f. OF frongnier, froignier f. froigne surly look f. Celt.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Frown Frown, v. i. [imp. &, p. p. Frowned; p. pr. & vb. n. Frowning.] [OF. froignier, F. frogner, in se refrogner, se renfrogner, to knit the brow, to frown; perh. of Teutonic origin; cf. It. in frigno wrinkled, frowning, Prov. It. frignare to cringe the face, to make a wry face, dial. Sw. fryna to make a wry face,] 1. To contract the brow in displeasure, severity, or sternness; to scowl; to put on a stern, grim, or surly look. The frowning wrinkle of her brow. --Shak. 2. To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavor or threateningly; to lower; as, polite society frowns upon rudeness. The sky doth frown and lower upon our army. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Frown Frown, v. t. To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look; as, frown the impudent fellow into silence.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Frown Frown, n. 1. A wrinkling of the face in displeasure, rebuke, etc.; a sour, severe, or stere look; a scowl. His front yet threatens, and his frowns command. --Prior. Her very frowns are fairer far Than smiles of other maidens are. --H. Coleridge. 2. Any expression of displeasure; as, the frowns of Providence; the frowns of Fortune.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(frowns, frowning, frowned) When someone frowns, their eyebrows become drawn together, because they are annoyed, worried, or puzzled, or because they are concentrating. Nancy shook her head, frowning... He frowned at her anxiously. ...a frowning man. VERB: V, V at n, V-ing • Frown is also a noun. There was a deep frown on the boy's face. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. Scowl, look stern. II. n. Scowl, stern look.

Moby Thesaurus

angry look, ban, black look, blackball, categorically reject, color, deprecate, dirty look, disallow, disapprove, disapprove of, discommend, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, dissent from, exclude, flush, frown at, frown down, frown upon, glare, gloom, glower, gnarl, grimace, grimace at, growl, knit the brow, long face, look askance at, look black, look black upon, look daggers, look down upon, look sullen, lour, lower, make a lip, make a moue, mantle, moue, mow, nasty look, not approve, not go for, not hear of, not hold with, object, object to, offense, oppose, ostracize, pique, pout, protest, redden, reject, reproving look, say no to, scowl, snap, snarl, spit, sulk, take exception to, think ill of, think little of, thumb down, umbrage, view with disfavor, wry face