Looking or directing one's gaze at an angle or with eyes partially closed; squinting.
From a- + squint, where squint likely derives from Middle English origins related to asquint, creating a bit of etymological circularity. The word may connect to Old Norse or Scandinavian roots, with 'a-' simply intensifying the directional quality.
Unlike most 'a-' words that fell out of use, 'asquint' actually survived better in poetry and literature because poets loved its compact sound—you can describe a sidelong, suspicious glance in one word: 'asquint,' capturing both the physical action and the emotional tone.
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