[f. next; but cf. the equivalent OF. froigne.]
1. A wrinkled aspect of the brow; a look expressive of disapprobation or severity, occas. of deep thought or perplexity. Also, the habit of frowning.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. iv. 209. You are too much of late i’ th’ frowne.
1635. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 206. With one frown, divers of us being at White Hall to see her … she drave us all out of the Chamber.
1710. Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 253, ¶ 8. May a Man knit his Forehead into a Frown.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, I. viii.
| His brow in manly frowns was knit, | |
| With manly thoughts his heart was full. |
1863. Miss Braddon, Eleanor’s Vict., III. i. 3. The lawyer bit his under lip, and walked away from his wife with a frown upon his face.
1872. Darwin, Emotions, ix. 223. A man may be absorbed in the deepest thought, and his brow will remain smooth until he encounters some obstacle in his train of reasoning, or is interrupted by some disturbance, and then a frown passes like a shadow over his brow.
fig. 1783. Mason, Du Fresnoy’s Art Paint., 341.
| Meanwhile beneath the frown of angry Heav’n, | |
| Unworthy ev’ry boon its smile had given, | |
| Involv’d in Error’s cloud, and scorn’d of light | |
| The guilty Empire sunk. |
1808. J. Barlow, The Columbiad, III. 635.
| Fly! speed your course, regain the guardina town, | |
| Ere darkness shroud you in a deeper frown. |
2. A manifestation of disapprobation.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, v. (1887), 27. Dissuaded from the worse, by misliking and frowne.
a. 1627. Sir J. Beaumont, Ausonius, xvi. 33. Peruerting crimes he checkes with angry frownes.
1721–2. Wodrow, Hist. Suff. Ch. Scotl. (1838), I. I. ii. § 2. 112/1. To this no answer was given, but frowns.
1722. De Foe, Relig. Courtsh., I. iii. (1840), 104–5. When children are grown up, the father’s frowns are a part of correction, his just reproaches are worse than blows.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 205. He tried the effects of frowns and menaces. Frowns and menaces failed.
1868. E. Edwards, Raleigh, I. ix. 140. When these new cantos were given to the public, Ralegh, as will be seen hereafter, was still, after the lapse of four years, under the frown of his royal mistress.
Hence Frownful a., full of frowns; Frownless a., devoid of frowns; Frowny a., having a habit of frowning.
1771. Langhorne, Laurel & Reed, 52. The murderer’s burning cheek to hide, And on his frownful temples die.
a. 1861. Sir F. Palgrave (Ogilvie). Her frowny mother’s ragged shoulder.
1890. Univ. Rev., 15 June, 262. Planted with virtues, frownless gravity And sober elegance.
