deride

Where does the word "deride" come from? It comes from Latin ridere, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Deride’s story begins in Latin: ridere meant “to laugh.” To laugh, combined with de- (down). Within Latin, it grew into deridere by ancient. To laugh down at, to mock, from de- and ridere. It reached English by 1500s as deride. Settled as the English word for mocking someone with scornful laughter. Today, deride means to express contempt for someone or something through mockery.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ridere "to laugh", to laugh, combined with de- (down).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient deridere "to laugh down at, to mock", to laugh down at, to mock, from de- and ridere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s deride "to mock someone with scornful laughter", settled as the English word for mocking someone with scornful laughter.