"I should not like to get into that man's clutches," said I, as my superior rejoined me; "he has a way of making one appear so small."

Mr. Gryce shot an askancelook at his shadow gloomily following him along the pavement.

(I have seen that look so many times, I did not need to look it up. But I still wonder how it originated.)


askance [ə'skæns], askant [ə'skænt]
adverb(ial)
1 with an oblique glance

2 with doubt or mistrust
[ETYMOLOGY: 16th Century: of unknown origin]

Don't remember having seen it as an adjective before, only an adverb, as in "He looked askance at the yelling children at the next table."

Bingley