English Explanatory Dictionary

snivel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To breathe heavily through the nose while it is congested with nasal mucus.
  2. To cry while sniffling; to whine or complain while crying.
  3. To say (something) while sniffling or crying.
noun
  1. The act of snivelling.
  2. Nasal mucus; snot.

Pronunciation

/ˈsnɪvəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-snivel.wav

Word forms

snivel snivels sniveling snivelling sniveled snivelled

Etymology

From Middle English snivelen, snevelen, snyvelen, snuvelen, from Old English *snyflan (attested in the verbal noun snyflung (“mucus”)), from Proto-West Germanic *snuflijan, related to Old English snofl (“mucus”), ultimately from the root of snout. Akin to sniff, snuff. Compare sniffle. Cognate with Middle Low German snuffelen, snüffelen (“to sniff, smell”), Danish snøvle (“to sniffle, snivel”), Norwegian Nynorsk snuvla (“to sniffle, snivel”), Swedish snövla (“to sniffle, snivel”). Compare typologically Russian сопе́ть (sopétʹ), сопля́ (sopljá) akinness.

Synonyms

sniffle beef bellyache bemoan bitch bleat whimper carp chunter complain crab croak dump on frine girn give out grumble grotch grouse grouch grump gruntle gripe harp inveigh kvetch latrate make a stink murmur mutter moan nag nark nudzh pinch piss and moan rail rail out repine ride snivel whine whinge

Related words

sniffle snuffle

Derived words

sniveler snivelingly snivellingly sniveller snivelling snivelly snivel rights
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