snivel

[sniv-uh l] /ˈsnɪv əl/
verb (used without object), sniveled, sniveling or (especially British) snivelled, snivelling.
1.
to weep or cry with sniffling.
2.
to affect a tearful state; whine.
3.
to run at the nose; have a runny nose:
She sniveled from the cold.
4.
to draw up mucus audibly through the nose:
Stop sniveling and use your handkerchief.
verb (used with object), sniveled, sniveling or (especially British) snivelled, snivelling.
5.
to utter with sniveling or sniffling.
noun
6.
weak, whining, or pretended weeping.
7.
a light sniffle, as in weeping.
8.
a hypocritical show of feeling:
a sentimental snivel.
9.
mucus running from the nose.
10.
snivels, a sniveling condition; a slight cold; sniffles (usually preceded by the).
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English snyvele; compare Old English snyflung (gerund), derivative of snofl mucus; cognate with Low German snüfeln
Related forms
sniveler; especially British, sniveller, noun
British Dictionary definitions for snivelling

snivel

/ˈsnɪvəl/
verb -els, -elling, -elled (US) -els, -eling, -eled
1.
(intransitive) to sniffle as a sign of distress, esp contemptibly
2.
to utter (something) tearfully; whine
3.
(intransitive) to have a runny nose
noun
4.
an instance of snivelling
Derived Forms
sniveller, noun
snivelling, adjective, noun
snivelly, adjective
Word Origin
C14 snivelen; related to Old English snyflung mucus, Dutch snuffelen to smell out, Old Norse snoppa snout
Word Origin and History for snivelling
adj.

"mean-spirited, weak," 1640s, present-participle adjective from snivel (v.). Related: Snivellingly.

snivel

v.

Old English *snyflan "to run at the nose" (cf. snyflung "running of the nose"), related to snofl "nasal mucus;" see snout. Meaning "to be in an (affected) tearful state" is from 1680s. Related: Snivelled; snivelling. As a noun from 14c. Melville coined snivelization (1849). Middle English had contemptuous term snivelard (n.).