Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - sneer

n. & v. --n. a derisive smile or remark. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by at) smile derisively. 2 tr. say sneeringly. 3 intr. (often foll. by at) speak derisively esp. covertly or ironically (sneered at his attempts). Derivatives sneerer n. sneeringly adv. Etymology: 16th c.: orig. unkn.