▪ I. fleer, n.1 Now rare.
(ˈfliːə(r))
Also 4–6 fleear.
[f. flee v. + -er1.]
One who flees; a. one who runs away, a fugitive; b. one who withdraws from or shuns (const. of).
| 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 51 He reskewyt all the flearis. c 1470 Henry Wallace x. 341 Sic a flear befor was neuir seyn. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus' Ann. xv. iv. 227 Which fear of the fleers away was no less ignominious, then if..they had turned their backs to the enemie. 1721 Kelly Scot. Prov. 47 A Fleer [printed Sleer] would ay have a Follower. 1829 J. Galt Let. in Ann. Parish Pref. 71 A refuge for the fleers from the calamities of the world. 1881 W. Wilkins Songs of Study 68 Shunner of sloth, and fleër of revels and feasts. |
▪ II. fleer, n.2
(flɪə(r))
Also 7 flear, fleere.
[f. fleer v.]
1. A mocking look or speech; a sneer, a gibe; ‘mockery expressed either in words or looks’ (J.).
| 1604 Shakes. Oth. iv. i. 83 Marke the Fleeres, the Gybes and notable Scornes That dwell in euery Region of his face. 1654 Fuller Two Serm. 4 The fleere and flout which their prophanenesse was pleased to bestow upon him. 1754 Foote Knights ii. Wks. 1799 I. 84 None of your fleers! I am glad here's a husband coming that will take you down. 1886 R. Broughton Dr. Cupid II. i. 12 Perhaps there was some truth in Betty's fleer, of her never having known any better company than that of the village apothecary. |
† 2. ‘A deceitful grin of civility’ (J.). Obs.
| 1681 D'Urfey Progr. Honesty xiv. 62 A sly Phanatick fleer. 1688 South Serm., Falshood (1737) I. xii. 468 Such a sly, treacherous fleer upon their face. 1727 Swift To Stella 47 Flattery tipt with nauseous fleer. |
b. nonce-use. In good sense: A cheerful look, a smile.
| 1866 Carlyle Remin. (1881) I. 71 A tallish man of rugged countenance, which broke out oftenest into some innocent fleer of merriment, or readiness to be merry when you addressed him. |
▪ III. fleer, v.
(flɪə(r))
Forms: 4–6 flery(e, 5–7, 8–9 dial. flyre, -er, flire, 6 flirre, flurre, 6–8, 9 dial. flear(e, 6–7 fle(e)re, flier(e, 7–8 fleir(e, 6– fleer.
[Perh. of Scandinavian origin, though not recorded in ON.; cf. Norw. and Sw. dial. flira, Da. dial. flire to grin, laugh unbecomingly.]
† 1. intr. To make a wry face, distort the countenance; to grin, grimace. Obs.
| ? a 1400 [see fleering ppl. a.]. 1530 Palsgr. 551/2, I fleere, I make an yvell countenaunce with the mouthe by uncoveryng of the tethe. 1570 Levins Manip. 190 To flurre with the lippes, labia promittere. 1599 B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. v. i, Let her fleere, and looke a scew. 1683 Hickeringill Trimmer i. Wks. 1716 I. 358 Treat a Monky seriously and correct him never so effectually, and he'll only flear at you. a 1715 Pennecuik Truth's Trav. Wks. (1815) 395 Falset began to fleir and greit. 1790 Morison Poems 96 How then he'd stare wi' sour grimace..Syne flyre like some outlandish race, At wretched me. |
2. To laugh in a coarse, impudent, or unbecoming manner.
| 1553 Latimer Serm. (1562) 115/b, In some places they go with the corses girnyng and fleeryng, as though they went to a beare-baiting. 1603 H. Crosse Vertues Commw. (1878) 141 For you shall neuer see a drunkard so wel-aduised..but either fleere and laugh it out, or be furious and quarrelsome. 1747 T. Story Life 51 He whispered to me..‘This is a Tythe-goose’; and then fleer'd. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 348 He..flyret at me as I wad hae him. 1864 Daily Tel. 17 Mar., Impudent-looking wenches..leering and fleering and chuckling con amore. |
† 3. To laugh or smile flatteringly or fawningly. Const. on, upon. Obs.
| 15.. Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.) II. 51 Though he flyer, flatter, and flicker. 1549 Chaloner tr. Ersasm. Moriæ Enc. A iv, This next hir that fareth as if she flired upon you..is Adulacion. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iii. xi, How popular and curteous, how they grinne and fliere vpon euery man they meet. 1673 F. Kirkman Unlucky Citizen 166, I found no alteration, she still fleir'd on me. |
4. To laugh mockingly or scornfully; to smile or grin contemptuously; hence, to gibe, jeer, sneer. Const. at, † upon.
| c 1440 Bone Flor. 1769 Tho two false..beganne to lagh and flerye. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 1033/1 When they mocke all lessons that are giuen them and flyre at them. 1621 H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 112 The affront of Sir J. B[ourchier] fleering into the L. Keeper's face. 1667 Pepys Diary 8 Mar., All the people of the Hall did fleer and laugh upon him. 1732 Gay Achilles iii. liv. Must you be fleering? Truce with your jeering. 1825 Lamb Vision of Horns Wks. (1875) 351 Instead of apology, he only grinned and fleered in my face. 1875 Tennyson Q. Mary ii. ii, I have heard One of your Council fleer and jeer at him. |
5. trans. To laugh mockingly at, ridicule, deride.
| 1622 Fletcher Span. Curate iv. vii, I blush to think how people fleer'd and scorn'd me. 1788 ‘A. Pasquin’ Childr. Thespis i. (1792) 52 Their high born disdain if keen Satire should fleer 'em. 1871 Dixon Tower IV. vii. 73 That mimic fleered and mocked his [the King's] Chancellor. |
Hence fleered ppl. a.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 109 Nor ne'er ten miles was travell'd from his cradle Yet faine would sit the fleerd Pegasian sadle. |
▪ IV. fleer
obs. var. flare v.
| 1761 F. Sheridan Sidney Bidulph (1767) V. 197 These little snug marriages, where Hymen comes as it were incog., without his tawdry saffron-coloured robe to fleer in people's eyes. |