gloat

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun malicious satisfaction
  2. verb dwell on with satisfaction
  3. verb gaze at or think about something with great self-satisfaction, gratification, or joy

Etymology

From Middle English *gloten, glouten, from Old Norse glotta (“to grin, smile scornfully”) or Old English *glotian, both from Proto-Germanic *glutōną (“to stare”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰel- (“to shine”), related to dialectal Swedish glotta, glutta (“to peep”), Middle High German glutzen, glotzen (“to stare”), Modern German glotzen (“to gawk, goggle”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

gloating, glee

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