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Webster 1913 Edition

Frown

Frown

(froun)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Frowned
(fround)
;
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.
Shakespeare
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.
Shakespeare

Frown

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

Frown

,
Noun.
1.
A wrinkling of the face in displeasure, rebuke, etc.; a sour, severe, or stern 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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Frown

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

,
Verb.
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.

Definition 2024

frown

frown

English

Noun

frown ‎(plural frowns)

A frowning emoji
  1. A facial expression in which the eyebrows are brought together, and the forehead is wrinkled, usually indicating displeasure, sadness or worry, or less often confusion or concentration.
    • 1873, Charles Darwin, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, page 223:
      He encounters some obstacle in his train of reasoning ... and then a frown passes like a shadow over his brow.
  1. A facial expression in which the corners of the mouth are pointed down.
    • 1911 December 1, “Facial Expression Electric Sign”, in Popular Electricity, volume iv, Chicago, page 714:
      The smile and the frown are both indicated and the operation of a motor driven flasher causes the face to look happy and sad in turn.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

frown ‎(third-person singular simple present frowns, present participle frowning, simple past and past participle frowned)

  1. (intransitive) To have a frown on one's face.
    She frowned when I told her the news.
  2. (intransitive) To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavour or threateningly.
    Noisy gossip in the library is frowned upon.
    • Shakespeare
      The sky doth frown and lower upon our army.
  3. (transitive) To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look.
    Let us frown the impudent fellow into silence.
  4. (transitive) To communicate by frowning.
    Frank frowned his displeasure with my proposal.

Derived terms

Translations

Welsh

Adjective

frown

  1. Soft mutation of brown.

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
brown frown mrown unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Etymology

From Old French frognier ‎(“to frown or scowl”), from Gaulish *frognā ‎(“nostril”), from Proto-Celtic *srognā.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /fɹaʊn/
  • Rhymes: -aʊn

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