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A smirk is a smile evoking insolence, scorn, or offensive smugness, falling into the category of what Desmond Morris described as Deformed-Compliments Signals.〔Desmond Morris, ''Manwatching'' (1977) p. 188-9〕 A smirk may also be an affected, ingratiating smile,〔B. Kirkpatrick ed., ''Roget's Thesaurus'' (1996) p. 572〕 as in Mr Bennet's description of Mr Wickham as making smirking love to all his new in-laws in the novel ''Pride and Prejudice''.〔Jane Austen, ''Pride and Prejudice'' (PEL 1975) p. 341〕 ==Etymology== The term has been derived from the Middle English ''smirken'', and linked to Old English terms for smiling and for derision.〔(The Free Dictionary )〕 ==Historical examples== George Puttenham in the 16th century described what he called “a mock with a scornful countenance as in some smiling sort looking aside”.〔Quoted in B. Ford ed., ''The Age of Shakespeare'' (1973) p. 72〕 "A constant smirk upon the face, and a whiffling activity of the body, are strong indications of futility," the Earl of Chesterfield once wrote in a letter to his son. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Smirk」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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