glower

American  

[glou-er] / ˈglaʊ ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to look or stare with sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.

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noun

1. a look of sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.

glower British  

/ ˈɡlaʊə /

verb

1. (intr) to stare hard and angrily

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noun

1. a sullen or angry stare

Related Words

See glare ¹.

Other Word Forms

• gloweringly
  adverb
• unglowering
  adjective
• ungloweringly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of glower

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ( Scots ) glowren “to glower”; akin to Middle Low German glūren “to be overcast,” Middle Dutch gloeren “to leer”

Explanation

If you see someone glower at you, you might consider glowering back, but no one likes an angry staring contest. To glower is not only to stare, it's to stare angrily, as if you're going to throttle someone. You might already have guessed that glower isn't of Greek or Latin origin, since it doesn't ring any of those bells. Chances are that glower comes from northern Europe, where it's related to some old words that mean to "glow." It was probably in the 18th century that it took on the meaning "stare at angrily or sullenly." You can use its root, glo, to recall its meaning: a person that glowers seems to glow with anger.

Example Sentences

Dr. Donald Glower, a Duke University cardiac surgeon who co-led the study, agreed.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2010

Glower, glow′ėr, v.i. to stare frowningly: to scowl.—n. a fierce or threatening stare.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Mabon released from prison in, 392; the “nine sorceresses” of, 404 Glower.

From Myths & Legends of the Celtic Race by Rolleston, T. W. (Thomas William)

Glower of Chelmsford had a patient who lived ten years on a pint of tea daily, only now or then chewing a half dozen raisins or almonds, but not swallowing them.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

Related Words

• scowl