wince
pronunciation
How to pronounce wince in British English:
UK [wɪns]
How to pronounce wince in American English:
US [wɪns]
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- Noun:
- the facial expression of sudden pain
- a reflex response to sudden pain
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- Verb:
- draw back, as with fear or pain
- make a face indicating disgust or dislike
Word Origin
- wince (v.)
- c. 1300, wincen; mid-13c. winchen, "to recoil suddenly," from Anglo-French *wenchir, Old North French *wenchier (Old French guenchir) "to turn aside, avoid," from Frankish *wenkjan, from Proto-Germanic *wankjan (cognates: Old High German wankon "to stagger, totter," Old Norse vakka "to stray, hover;" see wink (v.)). Originally of horses. Modern form is attested from late 13c. Related: Winced; wincing.
Example
- 1. That statistic must surely make them wince .
- 2. A sound that made her wince .
- 3. Last year 's indulgence , a new 25-inch television , still makes him wince .
- 4. We all wince at the thought of how xerox utterly failed to innovate on parc 's inventions , allowing apple and microsoft to run away with most of them .
- 5. Greetings involving kissing caused me to wince , and hugging generally just made me feel awkward .