What does loured mean?
Loured is the past tense and past participle of lour, a chiefly British verb meaning to look sullen, angry, or threatening. Its appearance usually suggests a grim facial expression: lowered eyebrows, a dark stare, and a degree of displeasure or menace that is stronger than a casual frown. Although “lour” can mean simply to scowl, it is often used with an implied direction, as in “lour at someone,” where the speaker is confronting another person with a visibly hostile look. The word is uncommon in contemporary everyday English and survives most often in Scottish and northern British speech, as well as in older literature. It is easily confused with “lured,” which has the same sound but describes attracting or enticing someone rather than expressing displeasure. Loured is therefore especially useful for conveying a concentrated, visibly intimidating reaction.
verbTo look sullenly or scowl. It can also mean to glare at someone in an angry or threatening manner.
- To look sullenly or scowl.
- To glare at someone in an angry or threatening way.
"She loured at him but said nothing."
"The old man loured at the children as they approached the gate."
"She loured over the newspaper and refused to speak."
A word for the unmistakable face of displeasure: the lowered brows and grim stare that say “I am not pleased.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does loured come from?
The word comes from Middle English luren or Louren, a verb expressing a sullen or threatening look. The precise ultimate origin of that form is uncertain, and the modern spelling became established in northern British usage. Its descendants include the agent noun “lourer” and the adverb “lourly.”
Related word forms
How loured is actually used
This verb is now uncommon and chiefly belongs to British, Scottish, and northern English usage, although it occasionally appears in literary or historical prose. In modern usage it usually conveys a dark, threatening expression rather than an ordinary mild frown.
Easily confused with loured
“Loured” means to look sullenly or glare, whereas “lured” means to attract someone with a deceptive promise, gift, or other inducement.