Askance is an adverb meaning with a looking or glancing attitude of suspicion or disapproval; it conveys skepticism or mistrust toward something. It can modify actions (to look askance) or describe a skeptical stance in speech or behavior. The term emphasizes a sideways, mistrustful glance or manner rather than outright doubt. Typical usage appears in more formal or literary contexts.
"She looked at the proposal askance, doubting its feasibility."
"The committee regarded the plan askance, unsure of the vendor’s motives."
"He accepted the story, but with an askance smile that suggested he doubted it."
"They listened to the explanation, nodding, but with an askance expression that betrayed their skepticism."
Askance originates in Middle English, combining the verb phrase ask with the preposition -ance forming an adverbial noun-like suffix. The earliest senses described looking with suspicion or sideways glances. The core metaphor is a sideways, skeptical gaze rather than a direct frontal look. Over time, the meaning retained its connotation of skepticism toward statements, actions, or motives, and by the 16th–17th centuries it had become a standard adverbial phrase in formal and literary English. The word’s use is most common in British and American literature, maintaining a slightly arch, antiquated flavor in modern prose. The construction reflects a fusion of a verb of inquiry with spatial orientation, signaling both a manner of looking and a stance of doubt. First known written attestations appear in early modern English texts, with steady usage in philosophical and political discourses where critical appraisal of information was essential.
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Words that rhyme with "Askance"
-ank sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as uh-SKAYNS, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /əˈskeɪns/, UK /əˈskeɪəns/, AU /əˈskeɪəns/. Start with a neutral schwa, then a stressed ‘skay’ diphthong ending with a soft 'ns'. The mouth should curve into the /eɪ/ vowel, finishing with a light /ns/. Audio resources: you can compare via Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries’ audio clips to confirm the /əˈskeɪns/ pattern.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying a-ASK-ance instead of uh-SKAYNS; (2) Pronouncing the second syllable as /æ/ or /a/ instead of the /eɪ/ diphthong; (3) Ending with a hard /s/ instead of the final /ns/ cluster. Correction tips: keep the /ˈskeɪ/ long, ensure the /ns/ is a smooth nasal + s blend, not a separate /s/ after a short vowel. Practice with minimal pairs like “skate” and “sense” to anchor the /eɪ/ and /ns/ sequence.
US: stronger rhotic pronunciation is not relevant here, but you’ll hear /əˈskeɪns/ with a crisp /eɪ/. UK: /əˈskeɪəns/ may glide the second syllable slightly longer to a near- schwa before n-s, but still keep /skeɪəns/ as a two-vowel sequence. AU: similar to UK, with a little broader vowel quality in the /ə/ initial and /eɪə/ or /eɪns/ depending on speaker; overall, rhoticity is not a factor in this word, but vowel quality and syllable-timing differ.
The difficulty lies in the subtle /ˈskeɪ/ diphthong and the final /ns/ cluster after a stressed syllable. The mouth needs a rounded, mid-to-high front vowel in /eɪ/ and a smooth nasal + /s/ sequence without inserting an extra vowel or lengthening awkwardly. Beginners often misplace stress or replace /eɪ/ with /æ/ or drop the /n/ sound slightly. Focus on keeping the second syllable prominent and finishing with a clean /ns/.
There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation. Each letter contributes to the sound: the initial schwa, the /sk/ blend, the /eɪ/ diphthong, and the final /ns/ cluster. The /a/ in the final syllable isn’t silent; it’s part of the /eɪ/ diphthong’s glide. Pay attention to the exact sequence: ə- SKAY- ns.
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