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Unsmiling Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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unsmiling

[สŒnหˆsmaษชlษชล‹ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

facial expression

Unsmiling refers to a facial expression that shows no smile, often indicating seriousness, displeasure, or a lack of friendliness. It can describe someone who maintains a neutral or stern face in various situations.

Synonyms

glum, serious, sombre, stern.

Examples of usage

  • Her unsmiling demeanor made everyone nervous.
  • He stayed unsmiling during the serious meeting.
  • The unsmiling crowd watched the performance with intensity.

Translations

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

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Facial expressions, including frowning or being unsmiling, can affect how others perceive your emotions and intentions.
  • Studies show that people often associate unsmiling faces with negative emotions like sadness or anger.
  • The human brain is wired to quickly interpret facial expressions, making an unsmiling face notable in social interactions.

Literature

  • In literature, characters who are unsmiling often symbolize seriousness, struggle, or depth in emotion, adding to their complexity.
  • Many poets use the image of an unsmiling face to convey themes of loss, despair, or introspection.
  • Uns smiling characters can be central figures in mystery genres, as their serious demeanor adds tension and intrigue.

Pop Culture

  • Iconic characters like Batman are often depicted as unsmiling, representing their serious nature and dedication to justice.
  • In popular memes, images of unsmiling faces are used humorously to express disappointment or annoyance.
  • Many celebrities, during serious moments or emotional speeches, can be seen unsmiling to convey their message's gravity.

Origin of 'unsmiling'

Main points about word origin

  • The prefix 'un-' means 'not,' so 'unsmiling' literally means 'not smiling.'
  • The word 'smile' comes from the Old English 'smฤซlan,' which means 'to smile' or 'to show pleasure.'
  • The combination of 'un-' and 'smiling' has been used in English since at least the 16th century.

The word 'unsmiling' is a compound adjective formed by adding the prefix 'un-' to the base word 'smiling'. The prefix 'un-' is of Old English origin, meaning 'not' or 'opposite of'. The root 'smile' comes from the Middle English 'smilen', which is derived from the Old English 'smylian'. The act of smiling is associated with expressing joy, friendliness, or amusement. Therefore, 'unsmiling' conveys the absence of these emotions or the presence of more serious feelings. The term has been in use in English since at least the 19th century, where it provided a descriptive way to convey a lack of emotion manifested through facial expressions.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,051 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.