different between suspiciously vs askance

English

Etymology

suspicious +? -ly

Adverb

suspiciously (comparative more suspiciously, superlative most suspiciously)

1. (manner) In a way suggesting suspicion.

   The police officer looked at her suspiciously.

2. (manner) In a way that arouses suspicion.

   She was behaving very suspiciously.

3. (evaluative) Causing suspicion.

   Suspiciously, he had taken out an insurance policy on his wife just months earlier.

4. (degree) To a degree that makes one suspect something.

   It looked suspiciously like a molding-compound repair of a dent.

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• askaunce (obsolete)

Etymology

Unknown. Possibly from Middle English askances (“as if”), or from Old French a escone (“hidden”) or Italian a scancio (“obliquely”). Compare asquint, Middle English askoyn (“at a slant, askance”), Dutch schuin, schuins (“sideways”), schuiven (“to shove”), schuinte (“slope”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??skæns/, /??sk??ns/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??skæns/
• Rhymes: -??ns, -æns

Adverb

askance (not comparable)

1. (of a look or glance) With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.
   • 1932 — Clark Ashton Smith, The Maker of Gargoyles

     The scandal of opposition died down, and the stone-carver himself, though the town-folk continued to eye him askance, was able to secure other work through the favor of discriminating patrons.

   • 1875, William Ewart Gladstone, The Church of England and Ritualism

     Both […] were viewed askance by authority.

   • 1828, Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations Volume III: Lord Brooke and Sir Philip Sidney

     My palfrey eyed them askance.

2. Sideways; obliquely.

Synonyms

• (with disapproval, skepticism): skeptically, suspiciously
• (sideways, obliquely): obliquely, sideways

Translations

Adjective

askance (not comparable)

1. Turned to the side, especially of the eyes.
   • 1855 — Robert Browning, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came

     My first thought was, he lied in every word,
     That hoary cripple, with malicious eye
     Askance to watch the working of his lie

Synonyms

• (turned to the side): oblique, sideways, askew

Verb

askance (third-person singular simple present askances, present participle askancing, simple past and past participle askanced)

1. (rare, transitive) To look at (someone or something) with a sideways glance.
   • 1953, Lowry Charles Wimberly, Prairie Schooner (volume 27, page 406)

     Bowed heads, Aunt Ellen's, Aunt Laura's, her sister's — bowed but askancing her yellow dress — yes, yellow, golden yellow, hue of sun and life, Dad's favorite, to see him off on this, his greatest journey.

   • 1997, Tibor Fischer, The Thought Gang (page 185)

     "My dear sir," said Hube in an authoritative manner to the receptionist askancing Thales, "first of all, we aren't tourists. Secondly, this isn't a rat, this is the present embodiment of the spiritual leader of millions of people in India […]

2. (rare, transitive) To turn (one's eye or gaze) to the side.