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Scorn

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means contempt; to reject with contempt

Where does the word "scorn" come from? It comes from Frankish skern, passing through Old French before entering English (1100s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
skern
Frankish · ancient
"mockery"
a Frankish word for jest
2
Stage 2 of 3
escarn
Old French · medieval
"mockery"
scornful mockery
3
Stage 3 of 3
scorn
English · 1100s
"contempt"
'scornful' followed
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Read the full story

Scorn’s story begins in Frankish: skern meant “mockery.” A Frankish word for jest. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as escarn. Scornful mockery. It reached English by 1100s as scorn. 'scornful' followed. Today, scorn means contempt; to reject with contempt.