Definition of "rictus" [‖Ric•tus]

• The expanse of an open mouth, a bird's beak, or similar structure. (noun)
• A gaping grimace: "his mouth gaping in a kind of rictus of startled alarm” ( Richard Adams). (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "It was best described as a rictus – a mug somewhere between a frozen formal grin and someone trying to hold back on saying, “oh shit oh dear …”."
• "I have not yet seen the photographs but I see the word 'rictus' coming to my mind."
• "The parents went on and on about how Daniel is usually so shy, but he really loved me, and my peaceful meal turned into me trying to appease some young chitterling at the next table with some kind of rictus plastered across my weary face."