frown

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˈfɹaʊ̯n/ (Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈfɹæʊ̯n/ (Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization) IPA(key): /ˈfɹaːn/ Rhymes: -aʊn Hyphenation: frown === Etymology 1 === From Middle English frown, froun (“a threatening appearance; lowering of the clouds”), from frounen (“to frown”). See below. ==== Noun ==== frown (plural frowns) A wrinkling of the forehead with the eyebrows brought together, typically indicating displeasure, severity, or concentration. (Canada, US) A downturn of the corners of the mouth, typically expressing sadness. Any facial expression that indicates disapproval or displeasure. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English frounen (“to frown as an expression of disapproval, displeasure, shame, fear, or jealousy”), from Old French froignier, froingnier, frognier (“to wrinkle the mouth or forehead, frown, scowl”), of uncertain and disputed origin. Perhaps from Medieval Latin fruncāre (“to wrinkle, crease, turn up one's nose, make a face, frown”) (compare Old High German fruncetura (“wrinkle”), via Latin), from Frankish *hrunkwittjā (“wrinkle”)/*hrunkwōn (“to wrinkle”), whence Old High German runza (“wrinkle”). See also French froncer (“to frown, scowl”). Alternatively, perhaps from Gaulish *frognā (“nostril”), from Proto-Celtic *srognā (“nose”). Still yet, perhaps of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish fryna (“to frown, frown with one's nose, make a wry face”), Norwegian frøyna (“to wrinkle up one's nose, make a wry face; snort”). Compare also dialectal English frine (“to frown, whine, complain”). ==== Verb ==== frown (third-person singular simple present frowns, present participle frowning, simple past and past participle frowned) (intransitive) To have a frown on one's face. (intransitive, figurative) To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavour or threateningly. (transitive) To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look. (transitive) To communicate by frowning. ===== Synonyms ===== scowl ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== == Welsh == === Adjective === frown soft mutation of brown === Mutation ===