WINCE
What does "WINCE" mean?
To flinch or grimace involuntarily in pain, distress, or embarrassment.
Meanings
- To make a small, sudden movement or expression in response to pain or discomfort. She winced as the nurse pulled off the bandage.
- A slight grimace or flinch expressing pain or unease. A wince crossed his face when he heard the price.
Word origin
From Old French 'guenchir' / 'guincir' meaning 'to turn aside, dodge', from a Germanic source related to 'wink'; the sense narrowed in English to the involuntary recoil from pain.
Remember it
WINCE is a WINK that hurt - both are quick, involuntary moves of the face.
A little poem
Salt finds the small cut-
before the mind names the sting
the whole face folds in.
haiku
Wordplay
- I told my friend a pun so bad he winced - which is the closest a pun gets to a standing ovation.
What it teaches
The body tells the truth a half-second before the mind decides to lie about it.
Quick facts
What does WINCE mean?
To flinch or grimace involuntarily in pain, distress, or embarrassment.
Is WINCE a valid word?
Yes — WINCE is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is WINCE?
WINCE has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does WINCE come from?
From Old French 'guenchir' / 'guincir' meaning 'to turn aside, dodge', from a Germanic source related to 'wink'; the sense narrowed in English to the involuntary recoil from pain.
What can WINCE teach us?
The body tells the truth a half-second before the mind decides to lie about it.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.