wince

  • 1Wince — Wince, n. [See {Winch}.] (Dyeing & Calico Printing) A reel used in dyeing, steeping, or washing cloth; a winch. It is placed over the division wall between two wince pits so as to allow the cloth to descend into either compartment. at will. [1913 …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2wince — [wıns] v [Date: 1200 1300; : Old North French; Origin: wenchier [i] to be impatient, move about suddenly ] 1.) to suddenly change the expression on your face as a reaction to something painful or upsetting ▪ Sandra winced as the dentist started… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 3Wince — Wince, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Winced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wincing}.] [OE. wincen, winchen, OF. quencir, guenchir, guenchier, giencier, guinchier, and (assumed) winchier, winchir, to give way, to turn aside, fr. OHG. wankjan, wenken, to give way, to… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4Wince — Wince, n. The act of one who winces. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5wince — (v.) early 13c., winch, probably from O.N.Fr. *wenchier (in O.Fr. guenchir to turn aside, avoid ), from Frankish *wenkjan, from P.Gmc. *wankjan (Cf. O.H.G. wankon to stagger, totter, O.N. vakka to stray, hover; see WINK (Cf. wink)). Originally of …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6wince — *recoil, flinch, shrink, blench, quail Analogous words: cringe, cower (see FAWN): balk, shy, stick, stickle (see DEMUR): squirm, *writhe …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 7wince — [v] draw back back off, blanch, blench, cower, cringe, dodge, duck, flinch, grimace, jib, make a face*, quail, recoil, shrink, shy, start, swerve, turn; concepts 154,185 …

    New thesaurus

  • 8wince — ► VERB ▪ give a slight involuntary grimace or flinch due to pain or distress. ► NOUN ▪ an instance of wincing. ORIGIN Old French guenchir turn aside …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9wince — wince1 [wins] vi. winced, wincing [ME wynsen < Anglo Fr var. of OFr guenchir < Frank * wenkjan, akin to OHG wankon, to totter, turn: for IE base see WINCH] to shrink or draw back slightly, usually with a grimace, as in pain, embarrassment,… …

    English World dictionary

  • 10wince — v. 1) (D; intr.) to wince at (to wince at the thought of going back to work) 2) (misc.) to wince in pain * * * [wɪns] (misc.) to wince in pain (D; intr.) to wince at (to wince at the thought of going back to work) …

    Combinatory dictionary

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