rare. [ad. L. *subrīsio, -ōnem, n. of action f. subridĕre to SUBRIDE.] The or an act of smiling.
1658. Phillips, Subrision, a smiling.
1798. in Spirit Publ. Jrnls. (1799), II. 149. With an amiable subrision of countenance.
1860. J. H. Stirling, Crit. Ess., Macaulay (1868), 133. In the act of enjoying a gentle subrision.
So Subrisive, Subrisory adjs., smiling, playful.
1860. J. H. Stirling, Crit. Ess., Macaulay (1868), 133. The following sentences … if allowed to be subrisory.
1867. Pall Mall Gaz., 5 Jan., 1. This … slight glimmer of subrisive irony.
1886. G. Allen, Darwin, i. 9. This half-hearted and somewhat subrisive denial.
