Where does “smirkingly” come from?
smirkingly (English) comes from English smirking, from English smirk, from Middle English smirken, from Old English smearcian, from Proto-Germanic smarōną — to mock; scoff at; deride.
smirkingly (English): In a smirking manner
Ancestry of “smirkingly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | smirking | present participle of smirk; The act of one who... |
| 2 | English | smirk | An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent,... |
| 3 | Middle English | smirken | — |
| 4 | Old English | smearcian | to smile |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | smarōną | to mock; scoff at; deride |