simper

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sim·per

(sĭm′pər)

v. sim·pered, sim·per·ing, sim·pers

v.intr.

To smile in a silly, self-conscious, often coy manner.

v.tr.

To utter or express with a silly, self-conscious, often coy smile: simpered a lame excuse.

A silly, self-conscious, often coy smile.

[Perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]

sim′per·er n.

sim′per·ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

simper

(ˈsɪmpə)

1. (intr) to smile coyly, affectedly, or in a silly self-conscious way

2. (tr) to utter (something) in a simpering manner

a simpering smile; smirk

[C16: probably from Dutch simper affected]

ˈsimperer n

ˈsimpering adj, n

ˈsimperingly adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sim•per

(ˈsɪm pər)

v.i.

1. to smile in a silly, self-conscious way.

v.t.

2. to say with a simper.

3. a silly, self-conscious smile.

[1555–65; akin to Middle Dutch zimperlijc, dial. Dan simper affected]

sim′per•er, n.

sim′per•ing•ly, adv.

simper

- To smile in a silly or self-conscious way.

simper

Past participle: simpered
Gerund: simpering

Imperative
simper
simper

Present
I simper
you simper
he/she/it simpers
we simper
you simper
they simper

Preterite
I simpered
you simpered
he/she/it simpered
we simpered
you simpered
they simpered

Present Continuous
I am simpering
you are simpering
he/she/it is simpering
we are simpering
you are simpering
they are simpering

Present Perfect
I have simpered
you have simpered
he/she/it has simpered
we have simpered
you have simpered
they have simpered

Past Continuous
I was simpering
you were simpering
he/she/it was simpering
we were simpering
you were simpering
they were simpering

Past Perfect
I had simpered
you had simpered
he/she/it had simpered
we had simpered
you had simpered
they had simpered

Future
I will simper
you will simper
he/she/it will simper
we will simper
you will simper
they will simper

Future Perfect
I will have simpered
you will have simpered
he/she/it will have simpered
we will have simpered
you will have simpered
they will have simpered

Future Continuous
I will be simpering
you will be simpering
he/she/it will be simpering
we will be simpering
you will be simpering
they will be simpering

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been simpering
you have been simpering
he/she/it has been simpering
we have been simpering
you have been simpering
they have been simpering

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been simpering
you will have been simpering
he/she/it will have been simpering
we will have been simpering
you will have been simpering
they will have been simpering

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been simpering
you had been simpering
he/she/it had been simpering
we had been simpering
you had been simpering
they had been simpering

Conditional
I would simper
you would simper
he/she/it would simper
we would simper
you would simper
they would simper

Past Conditional
I would have simpered
you would have simpered
he/she/it would have simpered
we would have simpered
you would have simpered
they would have simpered

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	simper - a silly self-conscious smile grin, grinning, smile, smiling - a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
Verb	1.	simper - smile affectedly or derisively smirk smile - change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure fleer - to smirk contemptuously

simper

verb smile coyly, smirk, smile self-consciously, smile affectedly The maid lowered her chin and simpered.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

simper

verb

To smile in an affected, knowing way:

smirk.

noun

An affected, knowing smile:

smirk.

Translations

smorfia sorridere affettatamente

simper

[ˈsɪmpəʳ]

A. N → sonrisa f afectada

B. VI → sonreír con afectación

C. VT "yes," she simpered → -sí -dijo sonriendo afectada

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

simper

[ˈsɪmpə^r]

vi → minauder

n → minauderie f
with a simper → en minaudant

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

simper

n … she said with a simper → …, sagte sie mit säuselnder Stimme

vi (= smile) → geziert or albern lächeln; (= talk) → säuseln

vt → säuseln

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

simper

[ˈsɪmpəʳ]

1. n → sorriso affettato

2. vi → fare lo/a smorfioso/a

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

"I didn't say felons!" the Chancellor explained.) "You may be sure that I always sympa--"("'Ear, 'ear!" shouted the crowd, so loudly as quite to drown the orator's thin squeaky voice) "--that I always sympa--" he repeated.("Don't simper quite so much!" said the man under the window.

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"Yes, ma'am, indeed," replied the other, with a stately simper, "there will be some satisfaction in looking on now, and I think it was rather a pity they should have been obliged to part.

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In Mary Ann there was a certain affected simper, and a craving for notice, that I was sorry to observe.

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"Come, is Babylon reformed, or have you degenerated?" she added, glancing with a simper at Kitty.

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In the midst of all these fascinations, Barbara's thoughts seemed to have been still running on what Kit had said at tea-time; for, when they were coming out of the play, she asked him, with an hysterical simper, if Miss Nell was as handsome as the lady who jumped over the ribbons.

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D'Artagnan entered, with a simper on his lips, his plate under his arm, his hat in one hand, his candle in the other.

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`That's too bad,' Tiny simpered. She was in a teasing mood.

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"Peter, you just spoil them, you know," Wendy simpered

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It was beyond a doubt some unspeakable tenor, a good-looking jackanapes, who mouthed and simpered as he sang!

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David Simper, of Bohun Street, Tile Hill, spent two weeks completing a gruelling course with the Cyclists Touring Club.

Norway great, says cyclist

True, the women generally get rather dull, passive roles and tend to simper in them.

Light

I can't be the only old broad who cringes when the usual starlet suspects simper 'I love a BAD BOY!' When I see the words bad boy, my flesh crawls.