Literary notes about roguish (AI summary)
In literature, "roguish" is employed to evoke a sense of playful mischief combined with a charming or cunning air. Authors use the term to suggest subtle insolence or impish allure—as seen when a character makes a cheeky grimace with a roguish face, hinting at both amusement and audacity ([1]). The word also colors descriptions of individuals who are enterprising or unconventional, whether in the roguish countenance of a young boy planning his next adventure ([2]) or in the sly, teasing glimmer in a character’s eyes ([3], [4]). At times, "roguish" conveys a morally ambiguous charm or satirical defiance, adding depth to character portrayals in narratives spanning from classic fairy tales to multifaceted social satires ([5], [6]).
- ‘I hope you are not disappointed,’ said Maude, making a roguish face.
— from A Duet, with an Occasional Chorus by Arthur Conan Doyle - The elder of the boys looked roguish and enterprising.
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. Andersen - And she fastens her most roguish glance upon the illustrious doctor, who says to himself, “What eyes!”
— from The Works of Balzac: A linked index to all Project Gutenberg editions by Honoré de Balzac - The elegant lady who stood there, a quizzing smile on her face and a roguish twinkle in her eyes, was Margaret.
— from The Yeoman Adventurer by George W. Gough - "Now," quoth he, "I would freely give a hundred pounds to meet this roguish fellow, Robin Hood, and to see somewhat of his doings in Sherwood Forest.
— from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle - And to choose for company that roguish and cheerful vice, politeness.
— from Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
