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simper out

C1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To say something in an overly sweet or silly way, often trying to appear cute or innocent.

Literal meaning: To send out words while simpering (smiling in a silly, affected way).

Meanings

1 C1 neutral

To say something in an affectedly sweet, coy, or silly manner.

"'Oh, I couldn't possibly,' she simpered out, batting her eyelashes."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Very rare. Found mainly in literary writing, particularly Victorian and early 20th-century fiction. 'Simper' as a verb means to smile in an affected, silly way; 'simper out' extends this to utterance. Rarely encountered in modern everyday English.

Commonly used with

reply excuse answer compliment words

Forms

Base
simper out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
simpers out
he/she/it
Past simple
simpered out
yesterday
Past participle
simpered out
have + pp
-ing form
simpering out
continuous

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