▪ I. snivelling, vbl. n.
(ˈsnɪv(ə)lɪŋ)
Also 2 snyflung, 5 -ynge; 5 sneuelyng, 6 -ing, etc.
[See snivel v.]
The action of the vb. in various senses.
| a 1100 in Napier Contrib. O.E. Lexicog. 58 Ᵹif heora æneᵹum for unhæle hraca of breoste oððe snyflung of nosa deriᵹe. c 1430 Freemasonry (Halliw. 1840) 711 From spyttynge and snyflynge kepe the also. 1587 L. Mascall Govt. Cattle, Sheepe (1627) 220 Sheep oftentimes wil haue the glaunders, and a sneuelling at their noses. 1655 Moufet & Bennet Health's Improv. (1746) 380 Spitting, Sniveling and Yawning, are only the Fruits of Fulness or Idleness. 1693 Apol. Clergy Scot. 15 They never thought Sniveling necessary to make a great Saint. 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. lxi. (1804) 436 After a good deal of snivelling and sobbing. 1782 Cowper To the Rev. Mr. Newton 11 There is nothing but sniv'ling and blowing of noses. 1815 Hist. J. Decastro I. 44 Come, John, let us have no more sniv'ling. 1875 Emerson Lett. & Social Aims x. 256 Meantime we hate snivelling. |
| attrib. 1782 E. N. Blower G. Bateman II. 115, I war'nt there was fine sniveling work when ye parted. 1816 Gilchrist Philos. Etym. 52 They only require a gentle grunt through the snivelling organs, to soothe dainty ears with much sweet melody. |
▪ II. snivelling, ppl. a.
(ˈsnɪv(ə)lɪŋ)
Also 3 snvuelinde, 5 snyvelande; 4 snyvelinge, 5 sneuelyng, snevyllynge, etc.
[f. snivel v.]
1. Of the nose, etc.: Discharging, or full of, snivel. Also of persons, given to snivelling or snuffling.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 319 Snvuelinde nose and wet mouth. 1483 Cath. Angl. 347/1 Snyvelande (A. Snevyllynge), naricans, naricus. 1608 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. iv. Decay 175 Stooping as she goes, With driveling mouth, and with a sniveling nose. 1615 Baud, Ruffe, & Cuffe (Halliw.) 16 He is a most filthy snivelling fellow..; he will wipe your nose of all, if you put the case to him. 1813 H. & J. Smith Rej. Addr. 72 A snivelling fellow he's call'd by his foes, For he can't raise his paw up to blow his red nose. 1862 Macm. Mag. Sept. 380 Another, whom he remembers a little snivelling boy. 1902 Times 16 July 13/6 The wonderful picture of leering, chuckling, snivelling senility. |
| transf. 1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma xxiii, The land⁓lady brought a snivelling mould candle into the cheerless..little inn-parlour. |
b. Of a cold: Accompanied by snivelling.
| 1687 Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, A snivelling Cold, un Rûme. |
2. Sounding through the nose. rare.
| 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 21 At the laste he thus owt abrayde Wyth a sneuelyng vooys & to hyr sayde. 1816 Gilchrist Philos. Etym. xvii, To see this good, plain dialect superseded by snivelling, flippant, senseless French. |
3. Displaying emotion or the semblance of it; mean-spirited, weak: a. Of persons.
| 1647 J. C[leveland] Char. Lond.-Diurn. 8 Two of Mars his Petty-toes, such snivelling Cowards, that it is a favour to call them so. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 84 The snivling Presbyterians..did not stick to report that he died no better than a Brewers Clerk. 1732 Fielding Covent Gard. Trag. i. vii, Without wine all human kind wou'd be One stupid, sniveling, sneaking, sober fellow. 1790 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Advice to Future Laureat Wks. 1812 II. 343 The little snivelling spirit. 1805 Dibdin in Naval Chron. XIII. 394 The snivlingest scoundrel that ever was seen. 1838 Dickens O. Twist xxvi, Why not have kept him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, snivelling pickpocket of him at once? 1860 Emerson Conduct of Life ii. Wks. (Bohn) II. 335 These Hoosiers and Suckers are really better than the snivelling opposition. |
b. Of discourse, writings, etc.
| 1673 Hickeringill Gregory F. Greybeard 276 Pickt the peoples pockets with canting long snivelling sermons. 1707 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) II. 19 A poor, sniveling discourse. 1767 Sterne Tr. Shandy ix. xii, That snivelling virtue of Meekness. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 4, I have received a snivelling letter from Griffin, offering to make a public submission, and pay costs. |