rictus

noun

ric·tus ˈrik-təs How to pronounce rictus (audio)

: the opening or gape (see gape entry 2 sense 2a) of a mouth

especially : the gape of a bird's mouth

: the edge or margin of the upper or lower mandible of an animal (such as a bird or snake)

also : the point or angle where the upper and lower mandible of an animal meet

: a rigid grin or grimace usually with the mouth open or lips parted

At the beach bar of a St Lucia hotel, Doc pulls his face into a welcoming rictus and steels himself for the Happy Hour invasion.

Rhoda Koenig

There, on the monitors in freeze frame, is Jack Nicholson, a hideous rictus carved onto his leering countenance.

Bill Zehme

—sometimes used before another noun

… Billie Shepherd tried to spice up the ice with a girl-powered routine but was so nervous, her face was frozen in a rictus grin.

Michael Hogan

Did you know?

Rictus began its English career in the late 17th century as a technical term for the mouth of an animal, the new science of zoology clearly calling for some Latin to set its lingo apart from the language of farmers. In Latin, rictus means "an open mouth"; it comes from the verb ringi, meaning "to open the mouth." Zoologists couldn't keep the word to themselves, though. English speakers liked its sound too much, and they thought it would be good for referring to a gaping grin or grimace. James Joyce used the word in both Ulysses (1922) and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), writing in the latter, "Creatures were in the field…. Goatish creatures with human faces…. A rictus of cruel malignity lit up greyly their old bony faces."

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The scares are slower-burning, such as a faraway shot of someone’s face scrunching into an unnatural rictus grin.

David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 May 2022 In one, from 2016, Anthony Weiner is seen with his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Huma Abedin, his mouth screwed in a rictus grin; in another, from 2015, a young Justin Bieber is staring off into space with a vacant smile on his lips.

The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2022 Prince’s expression — a rictus of embarrassment, confusion and guilt — belongs in a gallery.

A.o. Scott & Wesley Morris, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2017 And there, standing at the bench, his face contorted in a rictus of hateful intensity, was Mike Krzyzewski.

Will Blythe, Esquire, 1 Apr. 2010 Watching the way photography froze many of their faces into a rictus of rage was chilling.

Wesley Morris, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2017

单词	rictuses
释义	rictus noun ric·tus ˈrik-təs 1 a : the opening or gape (see gape entry 2 sense 2a) of a mouth especially : the gape of a bird's mouth b : the edge or margin of the upper or lower mandible of an animal (such as a bird or snake) also : the point or angle where the upper and lower mandible of an animal meet 2 : a rigid grin or grimace usually with the mouth open or lips parted At the beach bar of a St Lucia hotel, Doc pulls his face into a welcoming rictus and steels himself for the Happy Hour invasion. Rhoda Koenig There, on the monitors in freeze frame, is Jack Nicholson, a hideous rictus carved onto his leering countenance. Bill Zehme —sometimes used before another noun … Billie Shepherd tried to spice up the ice with a girl-powered routine but was so nervous, her face was frozen in a rictus grin. Michael Hogan Did you know? Rictus began its English career in the late 17th century as a technical term for the mouth of an animal, the new science of zoology clearly calling for some Latin to set its lingo apart from the language of farmers. In Latin, rictus means "an open mouth"; it comes from the verb ringi, meaning "to open the mouth." Zoologists couldn't keep the word to themselves, though. English speakers liked its sound too much, and they thought it would be good for referring to a gaping grin or grimace. James Joyce used the word in both Ulysses (1922) and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), writing in the latter, "Creatures were in the field…. Goatish creatures with human faces…. A rictus of cruel malignity lit up greyly their old bony faces." Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web The scares are slower-burning, such as a faraway shot of someone’s face scrunching into an unnatural rictus grin. David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 May 2022 In one, from 2016, Anthony Weiner is seen with his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Huma Abedin, his mouth screwed in a rictus grin; in another, from 2015, a young Justin Bieber is staring off into space with a vacant smile on his lips. The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2022 Prince’s expression — a rictus of embarrassment, confusion and guilt — belongs in a gallery. A.o. Scott & Wesley Morris, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2017 And there, standing at the bench, his face contorted in a rictus of hateful intensity, was Mike Krzyzewski. Will Blythe, Esquire, 1 Apr. 2010 Watching the way photography froze many of their faces into a rictus of rage was chilling. Wesley Morris, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2017 Word History Etymology New Latin, from Latin, open mouth, from ringi to open the mouth; akin to Old Church Slavonic rǫgŭ mockery First Known Use 1685, in the meaning defined at sense 2a rictuses noun plural of rictus as in simpers Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance simpers growls snarls smirks sneers glowers squinches scoffs moues looks winces lowers frowns mouths grimaces mugs glares scowls flinches stares faces pouts lours snoots mows Antonyms & Near Antonyms smiles laughs grins
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rictus

noun

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

noun