Ridicule

Ridicule
Ridicule Rid"i*cule, n. [F. ridicule, L. ridiculum a jest, fr. ridiculus. See {Ridiculous}.] 1. An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter. [1913 Webster]

[Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries. --Buckle. [1913 Webster]

To the people . . . but a trifle, to the king but a ridicule. --Foxe. [1913 Webster]

2. 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. [1913 Webster]

We have in great measure restricted the meaning of ridicule, which would properly extend over whole region of the ridiculous, -- the laughable, -- and we have narrowed it so that in common usage it mostly corresponds to ``derision'', which does indeed involve personal and offensive feelings. --Hare. [1913 Webster]

Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne, Yet touched and shamed by ridicule alone. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3. Quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

To see the ridicule of this practice. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Derision; banter; raillery; burlesque; mockery; irony; satire; sarcasm; gibe; jeer; sneer; ribbing.

Usage: {Ridicule}, {Derision}, {mockery}, {ribbing}: All four words imply disapprobation; but ridicule and mockery may signify either good-natured opposition without manifest malice, or more maliciously, an attempt to humiliate. Derision is commonly bitter and scornful, and sometimes malignant. {ribbing} is almost always good-natured and fun-loving. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ridicule — [ ridikyl ] adj. et n. m. • 1500; lat. ridiculus, de ridere « rire » I ♦ Adj. 1 ♦ De nature à provoquer le rire, à exciter la moquerie, la dérision. ⇒ risible; dérisoire. Par ext. (l idée de rire disparaissant) Très mauvais, d une insignifiance… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • ridicule — 1. (ri di ku l ) adj. 1°   Digne de risée, en parlant des personnes et des choses. •   Je ne m étonne pas que vous ayez ri tout votre soûl, en m écrivant l étrange bruit qui court de moi, que je n ai ni bonté ni amitié ; car, sans mentir, il ne s …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • ridicule — Ridicule. adj. de t. g. Digne de risée, de mocquerie. Que cela est ridicule! il nous dit des choses si ridicules. cet homme là s est rendu ridicule. on l a tourné en ridicule. Il est quelquefois subst. ainsi on dit, C est un ridicule, pour dire,… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • ridicule — vb Ridicule, deride, mock, taunt, twit, rally are comparable when they mean to make a person or thing the object of laughter. Ridicule implies deliberate and often malicious belittling of the person or thing ridiculed {the old State religion… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • ridicule — [rid′i kyo͞ol΄] n. [Fr < L ridiculum, a jest, laughable (thing), neut. of ridiculus, laughable, comical < ridere, to laugh < IE * wrizd , to avert the face (> Sans vrīda, embarrassment) < base * wer , to turn] 1. a) the act of… …   English World dictionary

  • Ridicule — Rid i*cule, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ridiculed};p. pr. & vb. n. {Ridiculing}.] To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting. [1913 Webster] I ve known the young, who ridiculed his rage. Goldsmith. [1913 Webster] Syn …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ridicule — Rid i*cule, a. [F.] Ridiculous. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] This action . . . became so ridicule. Aubrey. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ridicule — [n] contemptuous laughter at someone or something badinage, banter, buffoonery, burlesque, caricature, chaff, comeback, contempt, derision, dig*, disdain, disparagement, farce, foolery, gibe, irony, jab*, jeer, laughter, leer, mockery, mordancy,… …   New thesaurus

  • Ridicule — (fr., spr. Ridikühl), 1) lächerlich; 2) lächerliche Seite; daher sich ein R. geben, sich lächerlich machen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • ridicule — I noun buffoonery, burlesque, caricature, chaff, contempt, derision, derisiveness, disdain, disparagement, disrespect, game, gibe, jeer, lampoonery, ludicrous representation, mimicry, mockery, pasquinade, raillery, ridiculum, sarcasm, satire,… …   Law dictionary

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