▪ I. smile, n.1
(smaɪl)
Also 6 smyle, 7 Sc. smyl.
[f. smile v. Cf. MHG. smiel, Da., Sw., Norw. smil (NFris, smiil, from Da.).]
1. a. An act of smiling; a slight and more or less involuntary movement of the countenance expressive of pleasure, amusement, affection, etc., or of amused contempt, disdain, incredulity, or similar emotion. Also in phr. (to be) all smiles, i.e. wreathed in smiles.
| 1562 Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 78 Better is the last smyle, than the fyrst laughter. 1591 Nashe Pref. Sidney's Astr. & Stella in G. G. Smith Eliz. Crit. Ess. II. 228, I will leaue you to..offer your smiles on the Aulters of Venus. 1621 Quarles Div. Poems, Esther (1638) 105 Where are thy maiden-smiles, thy blushing cheeke? 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 239 This sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles. 1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Lett. II. xliv. 20 Every smile is waited for with impatience and envied by those who cannot obtain it. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho vii, St. Aubert gave him a friendly smile for his compliment. 1842 Borrow Bible in Spain xiii, The duke was all smiles and courtesy. 1875 Grindon Life xiv. 173 There are more smiles in the world than there are tears. 1916 G. B. Shaw Pygmalion iii. 154 Higgins:..Dont be nervous about it. Pitch it in strong. Clara (all smiles): I will. Good-bye. |
b. transf. and fig.
| 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 23 To see if the Continent were as full of smiles, as the seas were of fauours. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. iv. 187 Me thought I stood not in the smile of Heauen. 1727 Dyer Grongar Hill 82 Transient is the smile of Fate. 1757 Gray Bard 82 Fell Thirst and Famine scowl A baleful smile. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles v. vi, The sun..Now tinged them with a parting smile. 1831 ― Cast. Dang. xi, A knight, who..was poor in worldly goods, and in the smiles of fortune. 1859 Tennyson Marr. Geraint 350 Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel with smile or frown. |
c. Const. of (some quality, feeling, etc.).
| 1779 Mirror No. 64, I discovered a smile of satisfaction in the countenances of most of the guests. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxvi, Where he was surrounded with plenty, elegance, and smiles of welcome. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xxx, At this moment another smile of deep meaning passed between Dalzell and Claverhouse. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xx, Beyond the first smile of recognition. 1859 Habits of Gd. Society vii. 246, I never yet saw a smile of pity or sympathy on his face. |
2. colloq. A drink, esp. of whisky. orig. U.S.
| 1839 Spirit of Times 24 Aug. 294/3 We all agreed to take another smile. 1859 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 420 Smile, a drink, dram. 188. G. H. Kingsley Sport & Trav. (1900) vi. 186 You just take a ‘smile’ of the real, old, blue-grass Bourbon. 1889 Jerome Three Men in Boat ii, Harris..proposed that we should go out and have a smile. |
3. a. Comb., as smile-covering, smile-frowning, smile-peopled, smile-tuned, smile-wreathed adjs.; smile-maker.
| a 1618 Sylvester Sonn. i. Wks. (Grosart) II. 50 Eyes cloudy-clear, smile-frowning, stormy-calm. 1676 Wycherley Pl. Dealer ii. i, I cou'd not sit to a vain young Smile⁓maker tho' he flatter'd me. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam ii. xxxiv, The tranquil strength which cradled lay In her smile⁓peopled rest. 1825 Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Sutherl. I. 123 A consequent smile-covering frown from the young lady. c 1845 Mrs. Browning An Island xxv, Yea, soon, no consonant unsmooth Our smile-tuned lips shall reach. 1895 in Westm. Gaz. 12 June 7/3 His sparkling eyes and smile⁓wreathed face telling of the zest with which the novelty was enjoyed. |
b. attrib., as smile-line, smile-wrinkle.
| 1921 W. de la Mare Memoirs of Midget xxiv. 158, I looked at his long, fair eyelashes and the smile-line on his cheek. 1977 New Yorker 19 Sept. 58/3 Firkusny is a tall, lithe, trim man with gray hair, blue eyes, and smile lines in his face which soften an almost austere handsomeness. |
| a 1930 D. H. Lawrence Phoenix II (1968) iii. 254 The smile-wrinkles on the fresh, pleased face, they give odd quivers. |
▪ II. smile, n.2 dial.
Also smale.
[Representing OE. smyᵹel ‘cuniculus’ (only in glosses), related to sm{uacu}ᵹan to creep.]
(See quot.)
| 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words, Smile, the same, I believe, or nearly, as Smale; the form or fourm, or seat of a hare. |
▪ III. smile, v.
(smaɪl)
Forms: α. 4–5 smylle, 4–6 smyle, Sc. 5–6 smyll, 7 smill, 4– smile. β. 6–7 smoyle, 7, 9 dial. smoile.
[ME. smīlen, = OHG. smîlan (in pres. pple. smîlenter; MHG. smielen), also Da. smile (hence NFris. smile), Norw. and Sw. smila; these are prob. adoptions from a MLG. *smîlen, which may also have been the source of the English word.]
I. intr.
1. a. Of persons: To give to the features or face a look expressive of pleasure or amusement, or of amused disdain, scorn, etc.
to smile in one's sleeve: see sleeve n. 2 d.
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 2731 ‘Thar þe noght in hethyng smylle.’ Sco said, ‘for soth smild i noght’. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 185 Philip held him stille, & bigan to smyle. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 14 For with a goodly lok sche smyleth. c 1440 Alph. Tales cccl. 241 So þis Cardinall smylid, & commendid hym for his gude tale. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 711 The King preuilie smylit, Quhen he saw that bald. 1530 Palsgr. 722/2, I smyle, I make a countenaunce towarde laughyng and laughe nat outryght, je me soubzris. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 128 b, He..began to smile, & contempne theyr answere. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iv. i. 50 Some that smile, haue in their hearts I feare Millions of Mischeefes. 1670 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xiii. §4 They..reprehended him very sharply if he smiled on those days. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 2 ¶5 He can smile when one speaks to him, and laughs easily. 1754 J. Shebbeare Matrimony (1766) II. 107 She hung at Sir William's arm, Smiling in his Face. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lvi, He..would smile when George came down late for breakfast. 1898 J. Arch Story Life xv. 357 Chamberlain was smiling all over his face. |
| β 1599 Breton Mamillia Wks. (Grosart) II. 49/1 And,..like an olde horses neyghing, would he be smoyling. 1614 ― I would & I would not lxxix, I would I were an honest Countrey-Wench, That only could make Curtsey, smoile, and blush. 1864 Tennyson North. Farmer i. xiv, Loook 'ow quoloty smoiles when they seeäs ma a passin' boy. |
b. transf. and fig.
| 1594 1st Pt. Contention viii, In that I intreat you to vse her well. The world may smile againe and I may liue, To do you fauour if you do it her. 1596 Shakes. Two Gent. i. ii. 63 When inward ioy enforc'd my heart to smile. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 480 Then let me not let pass Occasion which now smiles; behold alone The woman [etc.]. 1747 Gray Fav. Cat 28 Malignant Fate sat by, and smil'd. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxii, Thy soothing strains the pensive heart beguile, And bid the visions of the future smile. a 1822 Shelley Mutability (2) 1 The flower that smiles to-day To-morrow dies. 1825 Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Sutherl. I. 110 Now indeed was the crisis of his fate at hand, every thing smiled. |
c. In the slang phrase I should smile, used to ridicule an idea (chiefly U.S.). Also in phr. to come up smiling: see come v. 74 b.
| 1883 C. H. Hoyt Bunch of Keys iii, in Five Plays (1944) 48 ‘Single room?’ ‘Well, I should smile.’ 1889 ‘Mark Twain’ Conn. Yank. ix. 113 They actually wanted me to put in! Well, I should smile. 1891 Youth's Companion 138 Sing for nothing? Well I should smile! |
d. Of eyes: to express pleasure, amusement, etc.
| 1759 C. Wesley in J. & C. Wesley Funeral Hymns 2nd Ser. 37 Those laughing eyes shall smile no more. a 1889 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 37 And May has come, hair⁓bound in flowers, With eyes that smile thro' the tears of the hours. 1938 Dylan Thomas in Seven Winter 17 She wept in her pain and made mouths, Talked and tore though her eyes smiled. 1940 W. Faulkner Hamlet iv. i. 289 His face changed—something fleeting, quizzical, but not smiling, his eyes did not smile. |
2. a. To look on, upon, at, or to a person with a smile or pleasant expression. Also with advs., as back, down, over, up.
| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 228 Achilles..upon himself to smyle Began, when he was so besein. c 1440 Bone Florence 1790 He at them can smyle. 1558 T. Phaer æneid i. A iiij, The maker of the Gods and men to her all swetely smyles. 1581 G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. ii. (1586) 73 b, To smile upon euerie man, is rather a signe of a vaine minde, then of a cheerefull countenance. 1676 Hobbes Iliad (1677) 15 His mother on him smil'd. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 69 ¶2 Sir Andrew, who often smiles upon me as he sees me bustling in the Crowd. 1749 Smollett Gil Blas xii. xiii. (1782) IV. 268 At these words of my god-daughter, I smiled to her father. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho lii, Ludovico smiled at Annette, and bowed to Emily. 1845 [see rank n.1 3 b]. 1847 Marryat Childr. N. Forest viii, Edward..smiled upon the little girl. 1860 A. J. Evans Beulah xx. 177 He smiled down into her tearful face. 1866 Mrs. C. J. Newby Common Sense II. 88 The cheerful rallying tone awoke something of the old pride in him, and he smiled up. 1889 R. L. Stevenson Master of Ballantrae iv. 111 How was he to smile back on the deceiver? 1896 F. A. Steel Face Waters ii. iii, They had smiled on little Sonny Seymour as he passed them. 1905 E. M. Albanesi Brown Eyes of Mary iii. 38 She smiled up at him from under the white sunshade. 1908 Smart Set June 89/1 The girl pushed aside the screen and smiled over at her. 1949 A. Miller Death of Salesman 132 He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that's an earthquake. 1952 E. O'Neill Moon for Misbegotten i. 40 She smiles down at Jim, her face softening. |
| transf. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. 499 In the Spring time, the medowes arraied with pleasant flowers smile upon the beholders. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 124 When fair Morning first smiles on the world. 1821 Shelley Adonais xxxii. 8 On the withering flower The killing sun smiles brightly. |
b. To look on or upon one with favour, approval, or encouragement. Freq. fig.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 4355 It is of Love, as of Fortune,..Which whylom wol on folke smyle, And gloumbe on hem another whyle. 1508 Dunbar Gold. Targe 218 Fair Calling did oft apon me smyle, And Cherising me fed wyth wordis fair. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, v. v. 20 Smile Heauen vpon this faire Coniunction, That long haue frown'd vpon their Enmity. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 220 Yet was it [i.e. a palace] able to smile upon Alexander, when hee extracted thence to pay his Soldats. c 1657 Sir W. Mure Hist. Ho. Rowallane Wks. (S.T.S.) II. 250 At y{supt} time the Court seemed to smill vpon him. 1709–10 Steele in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 345 My Lord Hallifax has smiled upon his labours. 1748 Gray Alliance 16 If equal Justice with unclouded Face Smile not indulgent on the rising Race. 1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne iii. 60 It is the duty of government to smile on undertakings which favour the industry of the people. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 281 Circumstances..seemed to smile on the project. |
c. To show by the features one's amusement (or pleasure) at something.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xviii. (Mary Egypt) 509 Ȝone ȝonge man..at myn fule speke smylit in hy. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2123 Ariadne, This lady smylith at his stedefastnesse. c 1470 Henry Wallace xi. 1384 Than Wallace smyld a litill at his langage. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. v. ii. 3 Time it is when raging warre is done, To smile at scapes and perils ouerblowne. 1623 Camden Rem. (1636) 245 Our first finest Poets may smile at the verses of that time as succeeding ages..will haply smile at theirs. 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit. 912 While he withdrawn at their mad Labour smiles. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 356 The Spaniard only smil'd at that, and made him no Answer. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam ii. xxxix, Wherefore dost thou smile At what I say? 1879 Mrs. A. G. F. E. James Ind. Househ. Managem. 60 Though they may smile inwardly at your ways,..they will never allow the smile to be outwardly seen. |
3. Of physical features, things, etc.: To have or present an agreeable or pleasing aspect.
Common in 18th cent. poetry.
| 1594 Kyd Cornelia iv. ii, O Faire Sunne, that gentlie smiles From the Orient-pearled Iles. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 165 Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles. 1703 Rowe Fair Penitent ii. i, A better Order of succeeding Days Come smiling forward, white and lucky all. 1769 Sir W. Jones Palace Fortune Poems (1777) 26 Each meadow blossom'd, and each valley smil'd. 1805 Wordsw. Elegiac Stanzas 19 A sea that could not cease to smile. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 11 A country smiling with cornfields and gardens. |
4. Of wine, beer, etc.: To sparkle. ? Obs.
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew s.v. Mantles, When Drink is brisk and smiles. 1721 Mortimer Husb. (ed. 2) II. 325 It flushes violently out of the Cock..and then stops on a sudden, and pearls and smiles in a Glass like any bottled Beer. 1828 in Carr Craven Gloss. |
5. (U.S.) slang. To drink; to have or take a drink.
| 1858 [see smiling vbl. n. 2]. 1865 J. C. Hotten in ‘Artemus Ward’ His Book 18 note, ‘Let us take a tod’ was formerly a common phrase. Recently, however, ‘To Kiss the Baby’ and to ‘Smile’ have taken its place. 1870 Daily News 7 Feb., This ‘gentleman’..asked me to ‘smile’. I had learned by experience that this is the slang phrase for ‘taking a drink’. |
II. trans.
6. a. To bring or convert into a specified condition by smiling. Const. in, into, out of, etc.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 465 Som Dick That smiles his checke [= cheek] in yeares. 1601 ― Twel. N. iii. ii. 84 He does smile his face into more lynes, then is in the new Mappe. 1608 ― Per. v. i. 139 Thou doest looke like patience..smiling extremitie out of act. 1728 Young Love of Fame i. 46 What author shall we find..The courtly Roman's smiling path to tread, And sharply smile prevailing folly dead? |
b. To dismiss, get rid of, drive away (something) with a smile or smiles; to while away (time), dry up (tears), in or by smiling. Also with down, out.
| 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 142 The great ones of thy court have audaciously smiled away the gloom and horrors of guilt. 1792 S. Rogers Pleas. Mem. ii. 78 When sober Judgment has his throne resigned She smiles away the chaos of the mind. 1803 Visct. Strangford Poems of Camoens Sonn. xx. (1810) 106 Those charming eyes, within whose starry sphere Love whilom sat, and smil'd the hours away. c 1850 Mrs. Browning Hector & Andromache 102 She received him straight To her bosom's fragrance—smiling up her tears. 1860 G. Meredith Evan Harrington xi. 111 ‘Another!’ the hostess instantly smiled down the inhospitable outcry. 1885 ‘L. Malet’ Col. Enderby's Wife i. iii, A woman's reputation must not be smiled away. |
| transf. 1827 Hood Hero & Leander xxviii, The drowsy world shone brighten'd in reply; And smiling off her fogs, his slanting beam [etc.]. 1936 R. Campbell Mithraic Emblems 52 It is the blossom in our blood With folded petals smiling out the sere, Brown, shuffled slippers of the limping year. |
† 7. To treat with contempt or disdain; to deride, laugh at. Obs.—1
| 1605 Shakes. Lear ii. ii. 88 A plague vpon your Epilepticke visage, Smoile you my speeches, as I were a Foole? |
8. a. To answer or repeat by smiling.
| 1621 G. Sandys Ovid's Met. iii. (1632) 91 Thou smil'st my smiles: when I a teare let fall, Thou shedd'st an other. |
b. To exhibit, indicate, or express by smiling; to grant, bestow, etc., with a smile; with direct speech as obj., to say with a smile. Also fig. and with in (quot. 1860).
| 1646 J. Hall Poems 29 Yet it is midnight still with me, Nay worse, unless that kinder she Smile Day. 1803 W. R. Spencer Year of Sorrow 46 Thy Susan..Smiled no sweet sunshine on thy closing day. 1814 Byron Lara ii. xvii, He..sadly smiles his thanks to that dark page. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exped. xlvi. (1856) 423 They cannot be said to smile a welcome upon the navigator. 1860 Lever One of Them iii, ‘The very remark I was about to make, my Lord,’ smiled in Mrs. Morris. 1880 Daily Telegr. 21 Feb., She smiled disbelief. 1886 ‘M. Gray’ Silence of Dean Maitland III. ii. 35 ‘This is alarming,’ smiled the dean. 1902 H. James Wings of Dove xv. 231 ‘He won't..make up his mind about me.’ ‘Well,’ Milly smiled, ‘give him time.’ 1936 W. Holtby South Riding iii. iii. 175 ‘Well, Dolly, I hope you're looking after these young men,’ smiled Carne shyly. 1976 H. MacInnes Agent in Place xix. 208 ‘Not for me,’ Georges smiled. |
c. With cognate object: To give (a smile, esp. one of a specified kind).
| 1837 Dickens Pickw. xxiii, Mr. Weller junior smiled a filial smile. 1862 M. E. Braddon Lady Audley xl, She smiled the queerest smile. 1868 Helps Realmah ii. (1876) 21 The Caliph smiled a grim smile. |
Hence ˈsmileable a., at which one may smile; smiled ppl. a., spoken or given with a smile; also with out.
| 1830 Blackw. Mag. XXVIII. 893 All speak,..or smile, of all the speakable..and smileable little interesting affairs. 1850 W. C. Bennett Baby May Poems 12 Tiny scorns of smiled reprovings That have more of love than lovings. 1892 C. E. Norton Dante's Parad. i. 5, I was divested of my first doubt by these brief little smiled-out words. |