Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “smile-smirk” come from?

smile-smirk (English) comes from English smile, from Middle English smilen, from Old Norse smīla, from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną, from Proto-Indo-European smēy-.

smile-smirk (English): To smile while smirking; A smile while smirking

Definitions

  1. To smile while smirking; A smile while smirking

Ancestry of “smile-smirk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsmileA facial expression comprised by flexing the...
2Middle Englishsmilento smile
3Old Norsesmīlato smile
4Proto-Germanicsmīlijanąto smile
5Proto-Indo-Europeansmēy-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēy- →