Definition of "glance"
glance1
verb
third-person singular simple present glances, present participle glancing, simple past and past participle glanced
(transitive)
To turn (one's eyes or look) at something, often briefly.
Quotations
Deare heart forbeare to glance thine eye aſide, / VVhat needſt thou vvound vvith cunning vvhen thy might / Is more then my ore-preſt defence can bide?
1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 139”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, signature I, verso
To look briefly at (something).
Quotations
A horseman rode up as he spoke, and gave a letter. Claverhouse glanced it over, laughed scornfully, bade him tell his master to send his prisoners to Edinburgh, for there was no answer; […]
1816, Jedadiah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter VI, in Tales of My Landlord, […], volume IV (Old Mortality), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for William Blackwood, […]; London: John Murray, […], page 110
To cause (light) to gleam or sparkle.
Quotations
The bink, with its usual arrangement of pewter and earthenware, which was most strictly and critically clean, glanced back the flame of the lamp merrily from one side of the apartment.
1824 June, [Walter Scott], “Letter IV. The Same to the Same [Darsie Latimer to Alan Fairford].”, in Redgauntlet, […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., page 70
(also figuratively) To cause (something) to move obliquely.
Quotations
One morning as I lay in my bed, a ſtrong motion vvas ſuddenly glanced into my thoughts of going to London; I aroſe and betook me to the vvay, […]
a. 1657, Joseph Hall, “Observations on Some Specialties of Divine Providence in the Life of Jos. Hall, Bishop of Norwich”, in The Shaking of the Olive-Tree. The Remaining Works of that Incomparable Prelate Joseph Hall, D.D. […], London: […] J. Cadwel for J[ohn] Crooke, […], published 1660, page 22
[S]hould vve croſs them, tho they ſhould ſee Shoals of Fiſh, or Turtle, or the like, they vvill purpoſely ſtrike their Harpoons and Turtle-irons aſide, or ſo glance them as to kill nothing.
1697, William Dampier, “An Account of the Author’s Return out of the South Seas, to His Landing near Cape St. Lawrence, in the Isthmus of Darien: With an Occasional Description of the Moskito Indians”, in A New Voyage Round the World. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], page 10
(obsolete)
To touch (something) lightly or obliquely; to graze.
Quotations
Alone, it vvas the ſubiect of my Theame: / In company I often glanced it: / Still did I tell him, it vvas vilde and bad.
c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i], page 97, column 1
Afterwards I tooke a walke in ye King's gardens, where I observ'd that the Mall gos the whole square thereof next ye wall, and bends with an angle so made as to glace [glance] ye hall; the angle is of stone.
1651 September 25 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, page 255
To make an incidental or passing reflection, often unfavourably, on (a topic); also, to make (an incidental or passing reflection, often unfavourable).
Quotations
I vvill this Night, / in ſeuerall Hands, in at his VVindovves throvv, / As if they came from ſeuerall Citizens, / VVritings, all tending to the great opinion / That Rome holds of his Name: vvherein obſcurely / Cæſars Ambition ſhall be glanced at.
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii], page 112, column 2
And therefore in order to promote ſo uſeful a VVork, I vvill here take Leave to glance a fevv Innuendo’s, that may be of great Aſſiſtance to thoſe ſublime Spirits, vvho ſhall be appointed to labor in a univerſal Comment upon this vvonderful Diſcourſe.
1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section X. A Tale of a Tub.”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], page 191
[T]hey rush upon him, and he narrowly escapes killing or ducking, for having ventured to glance a censure at the General.
1825, Thomas Carlyle, “Part III. From His Settlement at Jena to His Death (1790–1805).”, in The Life of Friedrich Schiller. […], London: […] [C. Richards] for Taylor and Hessey, […], page 204
(intransitive)
(also figuratively) To strike and fly off in an oblique direction; to dart aside.
Quotations
A has a little gald me I confeſſe: / And as the Ieſt did glaunce avvaie from me, […]
c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene ii], page 228, column 1
On mee the Curſe aſlope / Glanc'd on the ground, with labour I muſt earne / My bread; what harm? Idleneſs had bin worſe; […]
1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, lines 1053–1055
So that the more friends and relations I have, and the dearer and nearer they are, the more croſſes I have, by participating theirs: and every bitter Arrovv that vvounds any of them, glanceth upon me, and makes my vvounds the more by hovv much the more friends and relations I have; and makes them deeper, by hovv much the nearer or dearer thoſe friends or relations are to me.
1676, [Matthew Hale], “Of Afflictions, the Best Preparation for Them, and Improvement of Them, and of Our Delivery out of Them”, in Contemplations Moral and Divine. […], London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbury […], and John Leigh […], pages 66–67
But the object of this violence was so ready to defend himself by striking upon the assailant's hand, that the blow only glanced on the bone, and scarce drew blood.
1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter II, in Chronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume I, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, page 61
I started—I dropped the glass—the fluid flamed and glanced along the floor, while I felt Cornelius's gripe at my throat, as he shrieked aloud, "Wretch! you have destroyed the labour of my life!"
1833 December, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, “The Mortal Immortal”, in Charles Gibbon, editor, The Casquet of Literature: […], volume III, London, Glasgow: Blackie & Son, […], published 1873, page 355, column 1
(ichthyology) Of certain juvenile fish, chiefly of the Cichlidae family: to rapidly touch the side of its parent's body, usually to feed on mucus.
Quotations
[G]eneral impressions of glancing frequency in Acanthochromis juveniles have suggested that the glancing off parents occurs most often in young juveniles and appears to diminish in frequency as juveniles age […] The unusually high variance in lagoon stage-3 juveniles was caused by one relatively small brood (14) that glanced 36 times in one 30-min observation period.
1988 May 1, Kathryn Kavanagh, “Notes on the Frequency and Function of Glancing in Juvenile Acanthochromis (Pomacentridae)”, in Michael E. Douglas, editor, Copeia, number 2, Lawrence, Kan.: American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, pages 493 and 494
Of light, etc.: to gleam, to sparkle.
Quotations
[T]hou [God] didſt call, thou didſt cry, thou didſt break my Deafneſs, thou glancedſt, thou didſt ſhine, thou chaſeſt avvay my Darkneſs.
1678, Robert Barclay, An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, as the Same is Held Forth, and Preached, by the People, Called in Scorn, Quakers: , published 1701, page 195
Of a thing: to move in a way that catches light, and flash or glitter.
Quotations
[A] driving daſhing rain, / Peal upon peal redoubling all around, / Shakes it again and faſter to the ground, / Now flaſhing vvide, novv glancing as in play, / Svvift beyond thought the light'bubgs dart avvay; […]
1781 (date written), William Cowper, “Truth”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], page 85
Were there no stockings of Zetland wool soft enough for these pretty feet and ancles, that glance so white in the moon-beam?
1822, [Walter Scott], chapter X, in The Pirate. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., page 248
[A]n insane light glanced in her heavy black eyes.
1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The Quadroon’s Story”, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume I, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland, Oh.: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, published 20 March 1852, page 211
(figuratively)
Often followed by at: of the eyes or a person: to look briefly.
Quotations
The Poets eye, in a fine frenzy, rolling, doth glance / From heauen to earth, from earth to heauen.
c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i], page 53
Hither come—thou once of men, / Blest with pure science from above; / Thy spirit now returns again / To its native realms of love. / […] / And as thou glancest hence to there, / Remember that it gave thee birth, / And still illumine it from here.
1796 July, “Selected Poetry. To the Memory of Dr. [David] Rittenhouse.”, in The New-York Magazine, or Literary Repository, volume I (New Series), New York, N.Y.: […] T[homas] and J[ames] Swords, […], page 386
A bright beautiful face glanced out at the window, and vanished—a light footstep was heard—and Mary came tripping forth to meet us.
1819 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “The Wife”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C. S. Van Winkle, […], page 53
His thoughts glanced at all the neighbours who had made any remarks, or asked any questions which he might now regard as a ground of suspicion.
1861, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter V, in Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, part I, page 83
Often followed by at: of a topic: to make an incidental or passing reflection on, often unfavourably; to allude to; to hint at.
Quotations
Is't not enough thou haſt ſuborn'd theſe vvomen, / To accuſe this vvorthy man? but in foule mouth, / And in the vvitneſſe of his proper eare, / To call him villaine; and then to glance from him, / To th' Duke himſelfe, to taxe him with Iniuſtice?
c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i], page 82, column 1
He could never procure himself to be chosen fellow; for it was objected against him, that he had written verses, and particularly some, wherein he glanced at a certain reverend doctor famous for dulness; […]
a. 1746 (date written), Jonathan Swift, “An Essay on the Fates of Clergymen”, in Thomas Sheridan and John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume V, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, page 120
Francesca followed, reluctant enough in her secret; for though she would not have admitted it even to herself, she did shrink from the infliction of the inane solemnities with which her father garnished his discourse—to say nothing of the ungracious reflections which so often glanced at herself.
1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXIX, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), page 237
(obsolete)
Followed by by: to pass near without coming into contact.
Quotations
Some have digged deep, yet glanced by the Royal Vein; and a Man may come unto the Pericardium, but not the Heart of Truth.
c. 1670s (date written), Thomas Brown [i.e., Thomas Browne], “Sect[ion] III”, in John Jeffery, editor, Christian Morals, […], Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] [A]t the University-Press, for Cornelius Crownfield printer to the University; and are to be sold by Mr. Knapton […]; and Mr. [John] Morphew […], published 1716, part II, page 49
To move quickly; to dart, to shoot.
Quotations
VVhy is my verſe ſo barren of nevv pride? / So far from variation or quicke change? / VVhy vvith the time do I not glance aſide / To nevv found methods, and to compounds ſtrange?
1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 76”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley
[D]are / They [souls] paſſe the outſide and venture ſo farre / As into the depth of the ſouls ſubſtance? / […] / If that; the object gone, avvay thoſe forms do glance.
1642, H[enry] M[ore], “ΨΥΧΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΑ [Psychathanasia] Platonica: Or A Platonicall Poem of the Immortality of Souls, Especially Mans Soul”, in ΨΥΧΩΔΙΑ [Psychōdia] Platonica: Or A Platonicall Song of the Soul, […], Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Roger Daniel, printer to the Universitie, book 1, canto 2, stanza 24, page 44
noun
countable and uncountable, plural glances
(also figuratively) A brief or cursory look.
Quotations
Fie, fie, vnknit that thretaning vnkinde brovv, / And dart not ſcornefull glances from thoſe eies, / To vvound thy Lord, thy King, thy Gouernour.
c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene ii], page 229, column 1
[H]is ſupercilious glances grevv humbled, yea, his dazeling ſplendor (eclipſt in the ſetting [i.e., death] of his Maſter) becomes quickly darkned: […]
1638, Tho[mas] Herbert, Some Yeares Travels Into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique. […], 2nd edition, London: […] R[ichard] Bi[sho]p for Iacob Blome and Richard Bishop, book II, page 206
[H]ere paſſion firſt I felt, / Commotion ſtrange, in all enjoyments elſe / Superiour and unmov'd, here onely weake / Againſt the charm of Beauties powerful glance.
1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, lines 1167–1170
Hovv fleet is a glance of a mind! / Compar'd vvith the ſpeed of its flight, / The tempeſt itſelf lags behind, / And the ſvvift vvinged arrovvs of light.
1782, William Cowper, “Verses, Supposed to be Written by Alexander Selkirk, during His Solitary Abode in the Island of Juan Fernandez”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], page 308
He passed the papers through his hands, turning some over with a hasty glance, and dwelling on others as if their contents had been of the last importance.
1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter X, in Chronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume III, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, page 275
As he threw his head back in the chair, his glance happened to rest upon a bell, a disused bell, that hung in the room, and communicated for some purpose now forgotten with a chamber in the highest story of the building.
1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave I. Marley’s Ghost.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], page 24
Warwick left the undertaker's shop and retraced his steps until he had passed the lawyer's office, toward which he threw an affectionate glance.
1900, Charles W[addell] Chesnutt, “A Stranger from South Carolina”, in The House Behind the Cedars, Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […]
But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance, appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.
1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax, 1st Australian edition, London, Melbourne, Vic.: William Heinemann, page 3
(also figuratively) A quick movement that catches light, and causes a flash or glitter; also, the flash or glitter.
Quotations
The ayre here is freſh and ſvveet in the morning and tovvards Sunſet, but in the Sunnes perpendicular glances, vvee found it hot and raging: […]
1638, Tho[mas] Herbert, Some Yeares Travels Into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique. […], 2nd edition, London: […] R[ichard] Bi[sho]p for Iacob Blome and Richard Bishop, book II, page 193
[E]ach Creek & Bay / With Frie innumerable ſwarme, and Shoales / Of Fiſh that with thir Finns and ſhining Scales / Glide under the green Wave, […] ſporting with quick glance / Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold, […]
1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, lines 399–402 and 405–406
VVith vvinged expedition / Svvift as the lightning glance he executes / His errand on the vvicked, vvho ſurpris'd / Loſe their defence diſtracted and amaz'd.
1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], pages 76–77, lines 294–297
Is it the lightning's quivering glance / That on the thicket streams, / Or do they flash on spear and lance / The sun's retiring beams?
1810, Walter Scott, “Canto VI. The Guard-room.”, in The Lady of the Lake; […], Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for John Ballantyne and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and William Miller, stanza XV (BATTLE OF BEAL’ AN DUINE), page 264
(obsolete)
(figuratively) An incidental or passing allusion or thought, often unfavourable, expressed on a topic.
Quotations
[W]hen Marcus Philoſophus came in, Sylenus vvas grauelled, and out of countenance, not knovving vvhere to carpe at him, ſaue at the laſt, he gaue a glaunce at his patience tovvards his vvife.
1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], folio 35, verso
glance2
noun
countable and uncountable, plural glances
(obsolete except in the names of certain minerals) Any of various sulphides, mostly dark-coloured, which have a brilliant metallic lustre.
Quotations
The Oxides, Pyrites, Glances, and Blendes, might be so termed; thus we should have Tungstic Iron Oxide (usually called Tungstate of Iron), Arsenical Iron Pyrites (Mispickel), Tetrahedral Copper Glance (Fahlerz), Quicksilver Blende (Cinnabar), and the Metals might be termed native, as Native Copper, Native Silver.
1840, William Whewell, “Aphorisms Concerning Science. Aphorism XVII.”, in The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, Founded upon Their History. […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […]; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: J. and J. J. Deighton, page cxix