Search the Dictionary

Remarks concerning a subject or a person designed to excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making a person an object of laughter; banter; -- a term lighter than derision. We have in great measure restricted the meaning of ridicule, which wo…

the same object as another; one striving to reach or obtain something which another is attempting to obtain, and which one only can posses; a competitor; as, rivals in love; rivals for a crown.

ng to romance or fable; fanciful. Romanesque style (Arch.), that which grew up from the attempts of barbarous people to copy Roman architecture and apply it to their own purposes. This term is loosely applied to all the styles of Western Europe, from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the appearance of Gothic arch…

to smuggle; -- said of contraband or dutiable goods. heavy impositions . . . are a strong temptation of running goods. Swift.

An old crafty fox or beguiler -- a word of contempt. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Wise; sage; discerning; -- often in irony or contempt. Where the sapient king Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. Milton.

keen, reproachful expression; a satirical remark uttered with some degree of scorn or contempt; a taunt; a gibe; a cutting jest. The sarcasms of those critics who imagine our art to be a matter of inspiration. Sir J. Reynolds.

The quality or state of being saucy; that which is saucy; impertinent boldness; contempt of superiors; impudence. Your sauciness will jest upon my love. Shak.

nent boldness or pertness; transgressing the rules of decorum; treating superiors with contempt; impudent; insolent; as, a saucy fellow. Am I not protector, saucy priest Shak.

Essay; trial; attempt. [Obs.] To give a say at, to attempt. B. Jonson.

Derision; ridicule; mockery; derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts. Shak.

Extreme and lofty contempt; haughty disregard; that disdain which aprings from the opinion of the utter meanness and unworthiness of an object. Scorn at first makes after love the more. Shak. And wandered backward as in scorn, To wait an æon to be born. Emerson.

Full of scorn or contempt; contemptuous; disdainful. Scornful of winter's frost and summer's sun. Prior. Dart not scornful glances from those eyes. Shak.

To reject with contempt, as something absurd; to treat with ridicule; to flout; as, to scout an idea or an apology. "Flout 'em and scout 'em." Shak.

or rough; a bony piece; especially, a bony neckpiece of meat; hence, humorously or in contempt, the neck. Lady MacScrew, who . . . serves up a scrag of mutton on silver. Thackeray.

Mean; dirty; contemptible; scrubby. How solitary, how scrub, does this town lokk! Walpole. No little scrub joint shall come on my board. Swift. Scrub game, a game, as of ball, by unpracticed players. -- Scrub race, a race between scrubs, or between untrained animals or contestants.

Vile; mean; low; vulgar; contemptible. "A scurvy trick." Ld. Lytton. That scurvy custom of taking tobacco. Swift. [He] spoke spoke such scurvy and provoking terms. Shak.

t as the second of; to assist; to forward; to encourage. We have supplies to second our attempt. Shak. In human works though labored on with pain, A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain; In God's, one single can its end produce, Yet serves to second too some other use. Pope.

One who seconds or supports what another attempts, affirms, moves, or proposes; as, the seconder of an enterprise or of a motion.

from the path of rectitude and duty in any manner; to entice to evil; to lead astray; to tempt and lead to iniquity; to corrupt. For me, the gold of France did not seduce. Shak.