ridiculen.1
/ˈrɪdᵻkjuːl/, U.S. /ˈrɪdᵻˌkjul/ 1. † a. A ridiculous thing, feature, characteristic, or tendency; an absurdity. Cf. ridicle n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > absurdity, incongruity > [noun] > instance of
follyc1300
absurditya1525
mumpsimus1531
trim-tram1533
foppery1546
ridicle1570
fangle1583
delirium1599
monstruosity1601
adox1606
absurd1610
extravagancy1625
incongruitya1626
monstrosity1639
extravagant1644
extravagance1650
ridiculea1658
fadoodlea1670
ridiculous1674
irrationalitya1680
ridiculosity1773
whimsy-whamsy1807
absurdism1815
nonsensity1834
nonsensical1842
nonsensicalitya1850
fandango1856
fandangle1880
bollock1919
a1658 J. Durham Blessednesse of Death (1681) Ep. Ded. sig. **v Shall we look on the great multituds of Protestants..as a company of silly-pated ridiculs, rather to be pitied then as paterns to be imitated?
1677 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. III iii. 201 In this Masse-Sacrifice what a world of ridicules are there.
1691 W. Stoughton et al. Narr. Proc. E. Androsse in Andros Tracts (1868) I. 143 The purchasing of the Natives Right, was made nothing of, and next to a Ridicule.
1762 E. Gibbon Misc. Wks. (1814) IV. 139 Monarchs..have their private life, and may not the ridicules of it be displayed upon the stage?
1785 J. Rosenberg-Orsini Moral Ess. II. 33 The English have taken it into their heads to assume all the ridicules of their neighbours.
1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 61 Not that any folly, or ridicule, escaped his keen penetration.
1850 T. B. Macaulay Jrnl. 28 Jan. in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) II. xii. 273 He marked every fault of taste, every weakness, every ridicule.
1867 Q. Rev. July 16 This comedy..summed up..the vices and ridicules..of the ‘great’ of the present time.
b. An object of derision or contemptuous amusement; a laughing stock, a mockery. With of (also †to).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > fact or condition of being mocked or ridiculed > [noun] > object of ridicule
hethinga1340
japing-stickc1380
laughing stock?1518
mocking-stock1526
laughing game1530
jesting-stock1535
mockage1535
derision1539
sporting stocka1556
game1562
May game1569
scoffing-stock1571
playing stock1579
make-play1592
flouting-stock1593
sport1598
bauchle1600
jest1606
butt1607
make-sport1611
mocking1611
mirtha1616
laughing stakea1630
scoff1640
gaud1650
blota1657
make-mirth1656
ridicule1678
flout1708
sturgeon1708
laugh1710
ludibry1722
jestee1760
make-game1762
joke1791
laughee1808
laughing post1810
target1842
jest-word1843
Aunt Sally1859
monument1866
punchline1978
1678 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 96 For a Man to watch over his words and ways, so as to tye up himself from that hectoring liberty,..would make me the Ridicule of the times. View more context for this quotation
1694 A. Wood Let. 9 July in Life & Times (1894) III. 458/1 Imposing upon a generous person, and making him a ridicule to the company.
1721 S. Croxall in Fair Circassian (ed. 2) 53 Poor Faunus bruis'd and groaning with his Fall..: A Ridicule to all the drunken Vassals round.
1793 E. Inchbald Every one has his Fault. ii. i. 33 'Sdeath, am I become the ridicule of my fellow-creatures?
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. ii. 27 Some grotesque habits of..screwing his visage while reciting his task, made poor Sampson the ridicule of all his school-companions.
1884 Frank Leslie's Pleasant Hours 36 139/2 Through my love for you, you have made me the jibe, the ridicule of all Naples.
1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe Really Blues xiii. 236 The pretentious acting in those beat-up Hollywood epics..was the ridicule of all Harlem.
2007 E. Franklin Summer of Love viii. 96 ‘That's got to be the dumbest-ass name ever.’ ‘Yeah, it's pretty much the ridicule of all the extra-curric groups.’
2. to turn into (also to) ridicule: to make a mockery of someone or something; to cause to appear ridiculous. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1667 News from Dunkirk-House (single sheet) I disliked and complained of the Liberty they took to themselves of..turning all things serious and secret into Ridicule.
1673 J. Dryden Marriage a-la-Mode iii. i. 35 Methinks I'm to be turn'd into ridicule by all that see me.
a1719 J. Addison Dialogues Medals in Wks. (1721) I. i. 437 The very naming of them is almost sufficient to turn them into ridicule.
1822 G. C. tr. J.-B. Louvet de Couvray Amours Chevalier de Faublas IV. 208 I question who will have the last laugh, M. de Rosambert; for let me tell you, I don't like to be turned into ridicule.
1891 E. Gerard & D. Gerard Sensitive Plant I. ii. vii. 276 Does any one turn the true poet..into ridicule?
a1914 ‘M. Field’ In Name of Time (1919) v. 88 Ten years, a year—and all is found defeat In any life, all turned to ridicule.
1964 P. P. Wiener Nakamura's Ways of Thinking of Eastern Peoples xxxiv. 406 The Japanese turn into ridicule indiscriminately a Buddha, the Seven Deities of Good Luck, or whatever else is transplanted from abroad.
3. The quality or fact of being ridiculous; ridiculousness, absurdity.† b. Without construction. Obsolete.
a. With of. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > absurdity, incongruity > [noun]
wantonnessc1405
absurdity1529
monstruousness1545
impertinency1573
ridiculousness1573
monstrousness1574
absurd1581
absurdness1582
incongruity1597
fancy1598
delirium1599
monstruosity1604
absurdum1606
foppishness1611
impertinence1616
nonsense1630
impertinentness1645
irrationality1647
monstrosity1651
nonsensicality1652
ridicule1668
ridicule1672
nonsensicalness1674
maggotry1706
preposterousness1727
zanyship1766
ridiculosity1773
drollness1823
stultification1832
nonsensity1834
farcicality1849
cockeyedness1858
1668 W. Penn Sandy Found. Shaken 11 He did not understand how Paul, Peter, and John could be three Persons, and one Apostle, (a most apt comparison to detect the ridicule of their Doctrine).
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 18. ¶6 It does not want any great Measure of Sense to see the Ridicule of this monstrous Practice.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxix. 147 Leo was fully acquainted with the ridicule and falsity of the doctrines.
1824 S. Ferrier Inheritance II. xxviii. 304 He..seemed quite unconscious of the ridicule of such a supposition.
1837 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 26 July in Amer. Notebks. (1972) ii. 59 The man seemed too simple and obtuse to comprehend much of the ridicule of his situation.
1921 G. Bradford Let. 13 Nov. (1934) 89 One has only to think of Pope and the couplet to see the ridicule of associating it with the Song of Roland.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > absurdity, incongruity > [noun]
wantonnessc1405
absurdity1529
monstruousness1545
impertinency1573
ridiculousness1573
monstrousness1574
absurd1581
absurdness1582
incongruity1597
fancy1598
delirium1599
monstruosity1604
absurdum1606
foppishness1611
impertinence1616
nonsense1630
impertinentness1645
irrationality1647
monstrosity1651
nonsensicality1652
ridicule1668
ridicule1672
nonsensicalness1674
maggotry1706
preposterousness1727
zanyship1766
ridiculosity1773
drollness1823
stultification1832
nonsensity1834
farcicality1849
cockeyedness1858
1672 E. Ravenscroft Citizen turn'd Gentleman iv. i. 69 He is a very farce, nothing but ridicule.
1712 J. Hughes Spectator No. 467. ⁋1 We rather delight in the Ridicule than the Virtues we find in others.
1729 W. Law Serious Call i. 4 We see such a mixture of Ridicule in the lives of many People.
1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. I. 423 A desire of uniting in himself incompatible qualities, which gave an air of ridicule to his greatest actions.
a1845 S. Smith Elem. Sketches Moral Philos. (1850) 365 If a nation of savages were to see such a drama acted, they would see no ridicule in it at all.
1858 J. Doran Hist. Court Fools 235 The umbrellas gave an air of ridicule to the scene; the thing was felt to be, after all, only a splendid sham.
4. † b. A mocking or derisive act, speech, or piece of writing. Obsolete.
a. The action or practice of laughing contemptuously at a person or thing; derisive language or behaviour; mockery, derision.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > [noun]
hokerOE
hethingc1175
scornc1175
gabbinga1225
bourd1320
scoffc1330
illusiona1382
mowinga1382
derisiona1400
mockery?a1439
alluding1535
dor1552
jerking1565
mock1569
frumpery1582
subsannation1587
floutage1600
ridiculous1605
ludibry1637
ridicule1675
razoo1888
stick1956
1675 J. Crowne Countrey Wit i. i. 6 They should ne're have known what Lampoon and Ridicule was.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 291. ¶8 A Man who has the Gift of Ridicule is very apt to find Fault with any thing that gives him an Opportunity of exerting his beloved Talent.
1779 J. Moore View Society & Manners France I. xxx. 281 It is..to be regretted, that he allowed the shafts of his ridicule to glance upon the Christian religion.
1844 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VIII. 117 He had to sustain a storm of reproach and ridicule from his own people.
1875 A. Helps Social Pressure iii. 56 Such a proposal is just one of those things which admits of great ridicule.
1901 F. Norris Octopus i. ii. 61 His savage abuse and open ridicule of the neatly phrased rondeaux and sestinas and chansonettes of the little magazines was to her mind a wanton and uncalled-for cruelty.
1966 Listener 9 June 838/2 Can any of these nonsensities be stopped? I don't know. Perhaps if we heap enough ridicule upon them.
2006 N.Y. Times Mag. 4 June 49/1 He has Developmental Coordination Disorder, which made him the object of ridicule and bullying when he was growing up in Ireland.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > [noun] > piece or instance of
mockc1425
scrip1488
derision1535
frump1553
flout1570
scoffery1577
frumpery1582
flouting-stock1593
ludification1623
rision1656
ridicule1710
jab1905
1710 J. Addison Whig Examiner No. 1. ⁋14 That..piece of raillery..appears a pleasant ridicule to an ignorant Reader.
1755 H. Walpole Corr. 17 Dec. (1973) XXXV. 262 There never was so good a ridicule of all the formal commentators on Shakespeare.
1774 Earl Percy Lett. (1902) 45 I have sent you enclosed a Ridicule upon the Genl Congress.
a1824 S. Rowson Charlotte's Daughter (1828) v. 65 Here Mr. Matthews pretended to sob; when Lady Mary comprehending the ridicule, burst out a laughing.
1845 N. P. Willis Dashes at Life with Free Pencil iv. 175 A malicious editor, avowedly ‘to make his paper sell’, and for no other reason, came out with a foul-mouthed ridicule of the festivities.
1881 T. Woolner Pygmalion xi. 163 Their pretty ridicules, which sharp-hooked, stick And make the victim bleed.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
ridiculen.2
/ˈrɪdᵻkjuːl/, U.S. /ˈrɪdᵻˌkjul/ Now historical and regional.
A women's small handbag, typically embroidered or beaded and fastened with a drawstring; = reticule n. 2.The ridicule (or reticule) was introduced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as an alternative to pockets, which were not suited to the high-waisted Empire-style dresses fashionable at the time.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > bag > [noun] > woman's bag
ridicule1799
indispensable1800
reticule1801
pocketbook1830
handbag1873
purse bag1881
chain-bag1902
peggy bag1904
Dorothy bag1907
peggy purse1911
pochette1912
dolly-bag1926
purse1940
bucket bag1956
1799 in Catal. Prints: Polit. & Personal Satires (Brit. Mus.) (1942) VII. 589 Ridicule.
1804 Lady's Monthly Museum Feb. 132 A Kerseymere Spencer of the same Colour, with Tippet. Purple ridicule.
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist III. xli. 103 ‘Pockets, women's ridicules, houses, mailcoaches..,’ said Mr. Claypole.
1862 H. Kingsley Ravenshoe II. ix. 88 ‘But what is cly-faking?’ said Charles. ‘Why a-prigging of wipes, and sneeze-boxes, and ridicules, and such.’
1908 Amer. Mag. 66 437/2 The old woman she was a-pokin' aroun' in her ridicule that night, lookin' for the piece of beeswax I use to waxen the thread with when I mend shoes.
1943 J. Laver Fashion & Fashion Plates 1800–1900 24 Limerick gloves, and vermillion-coloured satin ridicule with gold tassels and spring.
1999 D. L. Johnson Too Late for Tomorrow (2004) x. 146 Gabby patted her ridicule, then reached down and grasped Mamaleen's hand to help her board.
Compounds
ridicule basket n. = reticule basket n. at reticule n. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > basket > [noun] > small
fiscelle1483
kipsey1615
ridicule basket1819
punnet1822
reticule basket1822
handle1900
1819 Times 20 May 3/2 Her dress was a gray stuff gown, trimmed with black velvet round the neck, straw bonnet, and ridicule basket.
1924 Trans. Buchan Field Club 13 39 Nannie wi' 'er reddicle basket, an' a big lump o' butter wi' a cabbitch blade roon't.
1962 Edinb. John o'Groat Lit. Soc. 13 A redicel basket on a kist.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† ridiculeadj.
Obsolete.
Arousing or deserving of ridicule; ridiculous, absurd.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > absurdity, incongruity > [adjective]
impertinenta1425
royeta1522
absurd1531
preposterous1533
ridiculous1533
deaf?1541
monstrous?1549
fabulous1561
fanatical1598
fantastical1600
laughable1600
fantasticc1616
nonsense1621
arsy-versy1628
absonous1642
nonsensical1645
ridicule?1669
fancical1671
grotesque1747
rich1836
saugrenu1876
laughsome1884
cockeyed1894
hilarious1925
Rube Goldberg1928
whimsy-whamsy1931
Rube Goldbergian1933
cockamamie1941
fantasticated1960
fanciful-
?1669 R. Howard & Duke of Buckingham Country Gentleman (1976) iv. i. 130 Vapor: Why it would serve in the dull countrey, but here it would seem ridicule. Sir Richard: ‘Ridicule’? as I take it that's a plain word finely spoil'd.
1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 54 Our Author having undertaken to make Calvin and Geneva ridicule.
1683 D. A. Whole Art Converse 28 Let us not discover by a suddain fit of anger our ridicule ambition.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online September 2020).
ridiculev.
/ˈrɪdᵻkjuːl/, U.S. /ˈrɪdᵻˌkjul/ 1. transitive. To subject to ridicule or mockery; to make fun of, laugh at, deride.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)]
teleeOE
laughOE
bismerc1000
heascenc1000
hethec1175
scornc1175
hokera1225
betell?c1225
scorn?c1225
forhushc1275
to make scorn at, toc1320
boba1382
bemow1388
lakea1400
bobby14..
triflea1450
japec1450
mock?c1450
mowc1485
to make (a) mock at?a1500
to make mocks at?a1500
scrip?a1513
illude1516
delude1526
deride1530
louta1547
to toy with ——1549–62
flout1551
skirp1568
knack1570
to fart against1574
frump1577
bourd1593
geck?a1600
scout1605
subsannate1606
railly1612
explode1618
subsannea1620
dor1655
monkeya1658
to make an ass of (someone)1680
ridicule1680
banter1682
to run one's rig upon1735
fun1811
to get the run upon1843
play1891
to poke mullock at1901
razz1918
flaunt1923
to get (or give) the razoo1926
to bust (a person's) chops1953
wolf1966
pimp1968
1680 R. Ferguson Let. conc. Black Box 1 A meer Romance, purposely invented to sham and ridicule the business of the Marriage.
1699 E. Ward London Spy I. v. 3 A little red-fac'd Blade..had been Ridiculing an Italian Sonetta.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. iv. 56 His Countrymen ridiculed and despis'd Him for managing his Affairs no better.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 101 Humanity and compassion are ridiculed as the fruits of superstition and ignorance.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Calderon i This tale,..ridiculed by most, was yet believed by some.
1876 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 2nd Ser. vi. 259 The old-fashioned pastorals ridiculed by Pope and Gay.
1915 New Fun 13 Feb. 14/2 The girl..good humouredly teased me for being so vain, but I, feeling too pleased with myself, did not mind her bantering and ridiculing me.
1951 Life 25 June 119/1 [They] employed 15 runners to give school children free samples of heroin and ridicule those who wouldn't try it as ‘squares’.
2006 New Scientist 23 Dec. 37/1 Owning such shameful material entailed possessing a CD, tape or vinyl album that might be discovered and ridiculed by your friends.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)] > make ridiculous
to make (a) mock ofc1475
ridiculize?1615
turn1673
ridicule1684
to make a hare of1830
farcify1834
guy1854
1684 N. S. tr. R. Simon Crit. Enq. Editions Bible xxvi. 238 His Notes generally are pretty plausible,..save only when he bustles for his Religion,..Preaches, Cants and ridicules himself.
1706 D. Defoe Jure Divino vi. 7 They'll own their Erring Fathers to be Fools, Whose Penitence their Practice ridicules.
1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 110 One dedicates, in high Heroic prose, And ridicules beyond a hundred foes.
Derivatives
ˈridiculed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > fact or condition of being mocked or ridiculed > [adjective]
bemockeda1616
flirteda1625
fleered1632
derided1690
ridiculed1710
flouted1859
1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. §11 That antiquated and so much ridicul'd Notion of Materia Prima.
1866 A. Halliday Sunnyside Papers ix. 103 Golden locks—that is to say, the ridiculed ‘carrots’ of another period—are now the admiration of all the men, and the envy of all women.
1908 Amer. Jrnl. Philol. 29 70 There are but six [sigmas] in the same number of feet in the ridiculed verse of Euripides.
1992 Sci. Fiction Age Nov. 6/2 The ridiculed rocket ships and rayguns from the pulp fiction of our youth have spawned real-world men on the moon and laser surgery miracles.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1a1658
n.21799
adj.?1669v.1680