rhizoverbBeta
DictionarylourDark or sullen appearance
verb / noun

lour

LOWW-er/ˈlaʊər/

A dark, threatening, or sullen look.

The young man lours with narrowed eyes and a tightly downturned mouth.

A close three-quarter portrait of a young man louring: brows drawn low, narrowed eyes glaring sideways, and a tight, downturned mouth make his sullen, threatening expression immediately visible.
Etymology
lourMiddle Englishto frown, scowl

Middle English louren meant “to frown or scowl,” connecting a displeased facial expression with a dark, threatening, or sullen appearance. Its deeper ancestry is uncertain.

In context

Shmoop2:41
And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house …
Scansion 101 by Shmoop

More examples

  • She loured at the noisy group outside her window.
  • He greets the interruption with a lour.
  • The hills disappear beneath a louring sky.

Forms

lour · lours · loured · louring

Similar words

scowl
Emphasizes an angry facial expression rather than a threatening appearance.
frown
Can express mild concern or puzzlement, not necessarily menace.
glower
Emphasizes an angry stare directed at someone or something.