See Also: flinch(dictionary)
flinch(dictionary)

flinch (iou)



flinch verb1 & noun. M16.
[Old French flenchir, flainchir turn aside, from West Germanic, whence also Middle & mod. High German lenken to bend, turn.]
A. verb.
verb intrans. Slink, sneak off, away. M16-E17.
verb intrans. Give way, draw back, turn aside, now esp. through a failure in courage or endurance; shrink from anything. L16.
G. Santayana Oliver never flinched in his determination to pursue higher things. C. McCullough Too much of a land person..to flinch from doing what had to be done.
b. verb trans. Withdraw (from), lose. L17-M19.
verb intrans. Shrink under pain, trouble, etc.; wince; blench. L17.
E. Bowen Rupert's wife..stood..breathing hard and flinching away from the lightning. J. Herriot The skin isn't broken, but he flinches if you press here.
b. noun. An act or instance of flinching. E19.
flincher noun L16.
flinchingly adverb (rare) with flinching L19.