Literary notes about snicker (AI summary)
Writers employ "snicker" in multifaceted ways to convey subtle humor, derision, or even to evoke specific sounds and rhythms. In some narratives, it marks a suppressed or knowing laugh—suggesting characters share a secret amusement or disdain, as when a quiet, conspiratorial snicker punctuates dialogue [1] or when an offhand remark is met with a subdued snicker [2]. In contrast, the term also appears in onomatopoeic constructions that mimic the swift, sharp motion of an action, as illustrated by the playful "snicker-snack" [3]. Additionally, "snicker" lends its name to places and historical events, reinforcing its versatility and rich cultural connotations [4]. This dynamic usage allows authors to subtly color both character interactions and narrative atmosphere.
- The laugh began before she reached the deck, Brog’s dry snicker beating time to the first mate’s guffaw.
— from The Blue Star by Fletcher Pratt - He broke into a snicker, his dark eyes flashing above a set of stained teeth.
— from The Land of Look Behind by Paul Cameron Brown - And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
— from Songs From Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll - Francis M. Hart, Sergeant, wounded in the right arm at Snicker’s Ferry, July 18, 1864.
— from The Military History of the 123d Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry
