smile
To form one's features into a pleased or amused expression, with the corners of the mouth turned up.
Etymology
From Middle English smilen, possibly from Old Norse *smīla or a related Scandinavian source, from Proto-Germanic *smīlijaną, likely from PIE *smey- (to laugh, to smile). The same root may have given Latin mīrārī (to wonder at, to admire) and Sanskrit smayate (he smiles). The word appeared relatively late in English — Old English used smearcian (to smile) instead.
The Journey: *smey- → smile
*smey-
*smīlijaną
*smīla
smilen
smile
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root *smey-. They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| Latin | mīrārī — to wonder, admire (possibly related) |
| Danish | smile — to smile |
| Swedish | le — to smile |
| Sanskrit | smayate — he smiles (possibly related) |
Did You Know?
Smile is a Viking-era addition to English, likely borrowed from Scandinavian settlers. The native Old English word smearcian (to smile) died out and was replaced by the Norse import.