asquint

[uh-skwint]

adverb, adjective

with an oblique glance or squint; askance; slyly; dubiously.

Origin of asquint

1200–50; Middle English, equivalent to a- a-¹ + squint, of uncertain origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for asquint

Historical Examples of asquint

But I know that Providence looketh not asquint, but looketh straight out, and through all men's darkness.
Letters of Samuel Rutherford
Samuel Rutherford
He,' indicating the sun, 'can only get at me asquint by that time, and I'm a match for him with my blue umbrella.
The Pillars of the House, Vol. I (of 2)
Charlotte M. Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for asquint

asquint

adverb, adjective

(postpositive) with a glance from the corner of the eye, esp a furtive one

Word Origin for asquint

C13: perhaps from Dutch schuinte slant, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for asquint

adv.

early 13c., "obliquely, with a sidelong glance," of uncertain etymology; from a- (1) + "a word corresponding to Du. schuinte 'slope, slant' of the independent use of which no instances survive ..." [OED]. "Middle English Dictionary" compares French équinter "cut to a point;" French dialectal (e)squintar "cast a glance, look furtively."