Both Uses of
wry
in
Nicholas Nickleby
- Besides these, there was a long row of boys waiting, with countenances of no pleasant anticipation, to be treacled; and another file, who had just escaped from the infliction, making a variety of wry mouths indicative of anything but satisfaction.†
Chpt 8 *
- But Mr Squeers, who had heard a portion of this closing address, and was by this time wound up to a pitch of impotent malignity almost unprecedented, could not refrain from returning to the parlour door, and actually cutting some dozen capers with various wry faces and hideous grimaces, expressive of his triumphant confidence in the downfall and defeat of Nicholas.†
Chpt 45
Definition:
-
(wry) understated humor -- often sarcastic or ironic -- often expressed by twisting the face
or (more rarely): a facial expression showing displeasure