deride
verbUK /dɪˈɹaɪd/ · US /dəˈɹaɪd/
Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin dērīdēre, the present active infinitive of dērīdeō (“to laugh at, make fun of, mock, deride”), from dē- (prefix denoting putting down or subjecting to indignity) + rīdeō (“to laugh; to laugh at, mock, ridicule”) (further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to rotate; to turn”) (referring to turning the mouth to smile) or *wreyd- (“to carve; to scratch”)). cognates * Old French dérider (rare), derire
1
To laugh at or mock (someone or something) harshly; to ridicule, to scorn.
- Cicero beeing Augur, derideth the Auguries, and blames men for letting their actions relie vpon the voyce of a Crovve or a Davve.1610, Saint Augustine, “The Confessions of Such as Doe Worship Those Pagan Gods, from Their Owne Mouthes”, in J[ohn] H[ealey], transl., St. Augustine, of the Citie of God: […], [London]: […] George Eld, →OCLC, book IV, page 191:
- And the people ſtood beholding ⁊ the rulers alſo with them derided him [Jesus], ſaying, hee ſaued others, let him ſaue himſelfe, if he be Chriſt, yͤ choſen of God.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 23:35, signature J2, recto, column 1:
4 more examples
- I knovv there be many baſe, impudent, and braſen-faced roagues, […] let them be proued, perjured, ſtigmatized, convict roagues, theeues, traitors, looſe their ears, be vvhipped, branded, carted, pointed at, hiſſed, reviled, and derided, vvith Ballio the baud in Plautus, they reioice at it, […]1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Shame and Disgrace, Causes”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 1, section 2, member 3, subsection 6, page 135:
- And thou Gallant, that readeſt and derideſt this madneſſe of Faſhion, if thine eyes vvere not dazeled vvith lightneſſe (light I cannot call it) of ſelfe-reflected Vanitie, mighteſt ſee as Monſter-like faſhions at home, and a more faſhionly Monſter of thy ſelfe; […]1625, [Samuel] Purchas, “Conquest of Mexico and New Spaine by Hernando Cortes [Hernán Cortés]”, in Purchas His Pilgrimes. […], 3rd part, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, 5th book, page 1119:
- [H]ee [Noah] of thir vvicked vvayes / Shall them admoniſh, […] and ſhall returne / Of them derided, but of God obſervd / The one juſt Man alive; by his command / Shall build a vvondrous Ark, as thou beheldſt, / To ſave himſelf and houſhold from amidſt / A VVorld devote to univerſal rack.1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature [Rr3], recto, lines 808–809 and 812–817:
- Thou derideſt ſervants for obeying diligently their higheſt maſter? and for doing diligently the greateſt, beſt and needfulleſt vvork in all the vvorld? And is this a good example for thy ovvn ſervants?1672, Richard Baxter, “The First Part, Christian Ethicks: Or, Directions for the Ordering of the Private Actions of Our Hearts and Lives in the Work of Holy Self-government unto and under God. Chapter IX. Directions for the Government of the Tongue. Tit[le] 6. Directions against Prophane Deriding, Scorning, or Opposing Godliness.”, in A Christian Directory: Or, A Summ of Practical Theologie, and Cases of Conscience. […], London: […] Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, […], →OCLC, §. 10, page 439:
2
Obsolete To laugh in a harshly mocking manner.
- Memorandum that about the year 1650 coffee and chocolate began to be frequently drunk in Oxon: and about 1655 a club was erected at Tilliard's where many pretended witts would meet and deride at others.1663 (date written), Anthony Wood, “166⅔ and 1663: 15 Car[olus] II: [atis] 31>”, in Andrew Clark, editor, The Life and Times of Anthony Wood, Antiquary, of Oxford, 1632–1695, Described by Himself […] (Oxford Historical Society series; XIX), volume I (1632–1663), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [Horace Hart] for the Oxford Historical Society at the Clarendon Press, published 1891, →OCLC, page 466:
- Synonyms
- badger, bam, barrack, brock, bullyrag, chiack, deride, fleer, fligger, flite, geck, heckle, hound, jeer, nip, outlaugh, poke borack, ridicule, scoff, sneer, taunt, twit
- Derived terms
- deridable, derided, derider, deriding, deridingly
- Related terms
- derision, derisive, ridicule, ridiculosity, ridiculous, risible, joke
- Hyponyms
- outjeer