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frown

(froun)

intr.v. frowned, frown·ing, frowns

1. To make a facial expression indicating thought or displeasure, as by wrinkling the brow and drawing down the corners of the mouth.

2. To regard something with disapproval or distaste: frowned on the use of so much salt in the food.

A facial expression indicating thought or displeasure; a scowl.

[Middle English frounen, from Old French froigner, to turn up one's nose, from frogne, grimace, of Gaulish origin; akin to Welsh ffroen, nostril, and Old Irish srón, nose.]

frowner n.

frowning·ly adv.

Synonyms: frown^{, glower^{, lower¹, scowl
These words mean to make a face expressing displeasure:frowns when he is annoyed; glowered when she was interrupted; lowered at the noisy child; scowled at my suggestion.}}

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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