wince

wince
wince1
wincer, n.wincingly, adv.wincingness, n.
/wins/, v., winced, wincing, n.
v.i.
1. to draw back or tense the body, as from pain or from a blow; start; flinch.
n.
2. a wincing or shrinking movement; a slight start.
[1250-1300; ME winsen, var. of winchen, wenchen to kick < AF *wenc(h)ier; OF guenc(h)ier < Gmc. Cf. WENCH, WINCH1]
Syn. 1. blench, quail. WINCE, RECOIL, SHRINK, QUAIL all mean to draw back from what is dangerous, fearsome, difficult, threatening, or unpleasant. WINCE suggests an involuntary contraction of the facial features triggered by pain, embarrassment, or a sense of revulsion: to wince as a needle pierces the skin; to wince at coarse language. RECOIL denotes a physical movement away from something disgusting or shocking or a similar psychological shutting out or avoidance: to recoil from contact with a slimy surface; to recoil at the squalor and misery of the slum.
SHRINK may imply a fastidious or scrupulous avoidance of the distasteful or it may suggest cowardly withdrawal from what is feared: to shrink from confessing a crime; to shrink from going into battle. QUAIL suggests a loss of heart or courage in the face of danger or difficulty; it sometimes suggests trembling or other manifestations of physical disturbance: to quail before an angry mob.
wince2
/wins/, n.
winch1 (def. 4).

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wince — Wince, n. [See {Winch}.] (Dyeing & Calico Printing) A reel used in dyeing, steeping, or washing cloth; a winch. It is placed over the division wall between two wince pits so as to allow the cloth to descend into either compartment. at will. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wince — [wıns] v [Date: 1200 1300; : Old North French; Origin: wenchier [i] to be impatient, move about suddenly ] 1.) to suddenly change the expression on your face as a reaction to something painful or upsetting ▪ Sandra winced as the dentist started… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Wince — Wince, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Winced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wincing}.] [OE. wincen, winchen, OF. quencir, guenchir, guenchier, giencier, guinchier, and (assumed) winchier, winchir, to give way, to turn aside, fr. OHG. wankjan, wenken, to give way, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wince — Wince, n. The act of one who winces. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wince — (v.) early 13c., winch, probably from O.N.Fr. *wenchier (in O.Fr. guenchir to turn aside, avoid ), from Frankish *wenkjan, from P.Gmc. *wankjan (Cf. O.H.G. wankon to stagger, totter, O.N. vakka to stray, hover; see WINK (Cf. wink)). Originally of …   Etymology dictionary

  • wince — *recoil, flinch, shrink, blench, quail Analogous words: cringe, cower (see FAWN): balk, shy, stick, stickle (see DEMUR): squirm, *writhe …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • wince — [v] draw back back off, blanch, blench, cower, cringe, dodge, duck, flinch, grimace, jib, make a face*, quail, recoil, shrink, shy, start, swerve, turn; concepts 154,185 …   New thesaurus

  • wince — ► VERB ▪ give a slight involuntary grimace or flinch due to pain or distress. ► NOUN ▪ an instance of wincing. ORIGIN Old French guenchir turn aside …   English terms dictionary

  • wince — wince1 [wins] vi. winced, wincing [ME wynsen < Anglo Fr var. of OFr guenchir < Frank * wenkjan, akin to OHG wankon, to totter, turn: for IE base see WINCH] to shrink or draw back slightly, usually with a grimace, as in pain, embarrassment,… …   English World dictionary

  • wince — v. 1) (D; intr.) to wince at (to wince at the thought of going back to work) 2) (misc.) to wince in pain * * * [wɪns] (misc.) to wince in pain (D; intr.) to wince at (to wince at the thought of going back to work) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • Wince — This unusual and interesting name has two possible origins, the first of which is a medieval topographical name denoting residence at or by a spot on a river where boats were hauled up onto the land by means of Pulleys, derived from the Middle… …   Surnames reference

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