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Glowered Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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glowered

[หˆษกlaสŠษ™rd ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

showing anger

To glower means to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger. It implies a dark, threatening gaze that suggests displeasure or hostility. This expression is often more about the emotion behind the gaze than any physical action. People typically glower when they are frustrated or upset, making it clear that they are not pleased with a situation or someone's behavior.

Synonyms

frown, glare, scowl.

Examples of usage

  • He glowered at the rude customer.
  • She glowered in response to the unfair criticism.
  • The actor glowered at the paparazzi.
  • The teacher glowered when she saw the mess in the classroom.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

  • The word appears frequently in classic literature to describe characters with heavy emotions, creating a vivid image of their anger.
  • In Shakespeare's works, characters often 'glowered' when faced with conflict, emphasizing tension in their surroundings.
  • Contemporary authors use 'glowered' to depict characters who experience inner turmoil, effectively conveying their emotional state.

Psychology

  • Research shows that facial expressions like glowering can heighten feelings of aggression in both the person expressing and those receiving it.
  • Cross-cultural studies reveal that glowering is universally understood as a sign of displeasure, emphasizing its strong communicative power.
  • In social psychology, glowering can affect group dynamics, often causing tension and reducing cooperation among individuals.

Pop Culture

  • The term 'glowered' often appears in action films when the hero faces an antagonist, symbolizing a powerful clash between good and evil.
  • In popular cartoons, characters often glower comically to exaggerate their anger, making it clear to the audience what they feel.
  • Video games frequently use glowering expressions to depict villains, adding dramatic flair to their character designs.

Art

  • Portraits from the Renaissance era sometimes feature subjects glowering, capturing the intensity of their emotions and societal status.
  • In modern art, glowering figures can represent societal critiques, showcasing the frustrations of individuals in the face of authority.
  • Street art often depicts characters glowering to communicate rebellion or discontent with social norms, turning the emotion into a visual statement.

Origin of 'glowered'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from Middle English, where 'gloren' meant to stare with anger.
  • It has ties to Old Norse 'glรณrr', meaning to stare, showing its long history of expressing intense emotions.
  • Initially, the word related more to physical expressions than just anger, encompassing various intense feelings.

The term 'glowered' comes from the Middle English word 'gloren', which means to stare or gaze. Its roots can be traced back to the Old Norse word 'glarja', meaning to stare or to squint. Over time, the word evolved in English to convey a sense of grimness and displeasure. The connotation of showing anger or annoyance through an intense stare became closely associated with the word, solidifying its current usage. The evolution from merely looking intently to adopting a more aggressive or hostile manner reflects broader societal attitudes towards expressions of discontent. By the late 1600s, 'glower' had firmly established itself in the English lexicon as a verb that captures a uniquely human expression of emotion.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,390, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.