deride

verb

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.”

   “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.”

2. 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.”