scornn.
/skɔːn/, U.S. /skɔrn/ 1.
a. Mockery, derision, contempt; in modern use, indignant or passionate contempt.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > [noun]
scornc1175
scarec1275
disdainc1290
forhoghta1300
despite1340
unworthhead1340
unworthness1340
despising1382
byscorn1387
contempta1393
daina1400
dedignationc1400
vilityc1430
despisec1440
contemption1467
lightliness1479
despection1482
misprisement1483
misprizing1485
contemnment1502
fastidie1536
misprize1590
misprision1592
sdeign1595
misprisal1596
despisement1603
disesteem1603
disestimation1619
despiciency1623
despect1624
disopinion1625
under-opinion1629
despisal1650
parvipension1675
sneer1791
misesteem1832
despication1837
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
α.
β. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 169 Þo ne mihte no man for stenche cumen him enden..ac mest manne gremede him mid scorne.c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 57 Amid þe muð me gurde him. sum cheare inohreaðe as me tobeot his cheken. & spitte him o scarne [a1250 Nero a schorn; a1250 Titus o scharne].c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 255/8 Gret scorn heo hadden of alle þulke: þat icristnede were.1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 12495 With skorne wenest þou þe quyte As a fals ypocryte.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 22 Þe vifte out-kestinge of þe ilke stocke is scorn.1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. x. 304 In scole þere is scorne but if a clerke wil lerne.c1450 Mirk's Festial 147 Þen was he for scorne lad to þe ȝate of þe cyte of Rome.1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. XXXii The vestimentes [betokeneth], the garmentes in the whiche our sauiour was clothed in scorne.1528 D. Lindsay Dreme 2132 Quhilk bled with effusioun, With scrone and derisioun, And deit with confusioun, Confirmand our peace.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 5557 Hit is heghly to haue, & of hert dryue Soche sklaundur & skorne, þat skathis to mony.1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. iii. 127 Shall I, saies she, that haue so oft encountred him with scorne, write to him that I loue him? View more context for this quotation1616 T. Scot 2nd Pt. Philomythie sig. C3 As when laden gun Spits forth its load, in scorne to be restraind.a1645 E. Waller To A. H. 12 Till my just disdain Of her neglect above that Passion born, Did pride to pride oppose, and scorn to scorn.1719 J. Ozell tr. F. M. Misson Mem. Trav. Eng. 25 The Bull, immoveable, looks down upon the Dog with an Eye of Scorn.1781 W. Cowper Table Talk 201 Or tell me, if you can, what pow'r maintains A Briton's scorn of arbitrary chains?1866 A. C. Swinburne Sel. from Byron Pref. 15 Scorn is brief or silent: anger alone finds vent in violent iteration and clamorous appeal.1882 ‘Ouida’ In Maremma I. 25 His great black eyes blazing in a scorn he strove to assume.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4876 & all onn hæþing. & o skarn Off me gaþ eȝȝwhær spæche.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4402 Þatt tu ne take nohht wiþþ skarn. Wiþþ hæþinng. ne wiþþ idell. Þe name off ure laferrd crist.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8638 Þa þe king Gillomar makede mucchel hoker & scarn [c1300 Otho mochel scornes].
b. Alliteratively coupled with scathe. Scottish and archaic.
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 23338 For þair misfar suld þai not murn, Ne ans for þair skathes skurn [Gött. schathes schurn].
c1480 (a1400) St. Justina 767 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 174 Iustine & cypriane of þe caldrone son wes tane als hale & fere, but schath & schorne, as þai ware of þare modir borne.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 31v Fforto wreke vs of wrathe & the wegh harme Bothe of skathe & of skorne.
1597 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 197 As scorne comes commonlie with skaith.
1819 W. Scott Legend of Montrose iv, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 223 And at the best I shall be ill enough off, getting both the scaith and the scorn.
1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xv. iv. 60 Let us take the scathe and the scorn candidly home to us.
c. personified.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > [noun] > personified
scorn?a1513
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 231 Throucht Skornes nos thai put a prik, This he wes banist and gat a blek.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iii. i. 51 Disdaine and Scorne ride sparkling in her eies, Misprising what they looke on. View more context for this quotation
1613 J. Davies Muses Teares (Grosart) 5 For Hate, by feare, is held from bold Attempt: But, Scorne doth make it daring.
1747 T. Gray Ode Eton Coll. 7 Ambition This shall tempt to rise, Then whirl the Wretch from high, To bitter Scorn a Sacrifice.
1833 T. Hook Parson's Daughter II. vi. 111 The mark for scorn to point his finger at.
2. A manifestation of contempt; a derisive utterance or gesture; a taunt, an insult. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > [noun] > action of treating with contempt > an act of contempt
scornc1275
despite1297
contemption1467
contempt1502
lightly1576
indignity1584
slight1719
fuck you1943
shaft1959
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > jeering, taunting, or scoffing > [noun] > instance of
hoker-wordOE
gabc1225
scornc1275
jape1377
bourda1387
gaudc1440
knack1513
scoffing1530
gleekc1540
jest1548
to have a fling at?1550
snack?1554
boba1566
taunta1566
gird1566
flim-flam-flirt1573
gibe1573
scoff1573
flouting-stock1593
mycterism1593
flirt1613
fleera1616
scomma1620
jeer1631
snouchc1780
brocard1837
c1275 Laȝamon Brut 29564 And suþþe ȝ[eiden] hine on mid hire foule scornes.
a1330 Otuel 1316 Þo otuwel sauȝ is cheke bon, He ȝaf clarel a skorn a non.
c1410 Sir Cleges 393 He cam anon, and teryde natt, Wythout any skorn.
1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell 1382 Also a deuoute Prayer to Moyses hornis, Metrifyde merely, medelyd with scornis.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iv. i. 81 Incaue your selfe, And marke the Ieeres, the Iibes, and notable scornes, That dwell in euery region of his face.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables xi. 12 What Man then that is not stark Mad, will Voluntarily Expose himself to the..Scorns of Great Men!
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam lxvii. 94 I met with scoffs, I met with scorns From youth and babe and hoary hairs. View more context for this quotation
3. † a. Matter for scorn, something contemptible. Cf. to think scorn at sense 4. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [noun] > state or quality of being contemptible > a matter for contempt
scornc1350
c1350 Leg. Rood (1871) 81 Scho..trowed no vertu in þe tre; Hir thoght it was scorne in hir wit Þat oþer men so honord it.
b. An object of mockery or contempt.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [noun] > state or quality of being contemptible > object of contempt
despitea1340
parablec1350
reproofa1382
scorn1535
reproach1560
scorning-stocka1586
contempt1589
taunt1611
contemptible1654
Aunt Sally1859
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xxi. 6 But as for me, I am a worme and no man: a very scorne of men and the outcast of the people.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. iv. 104 Thou..art confederate with a damned packe, To make a loathsome abiect scorne of me. View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 34 Made of my Enemies the scorn and gaze. View more context for this quotation
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables ccxxiii. 195 But in a Dead Calm, a Man loses his Spirits, and lies in a Manner Expos'd, as the Scorn and Spectacle of Ill Fortune.
1718 Free-thinker No. 57. Let him live to be the Scorn of every Honest Man.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. iii. 82 A scandal and a scorn To all who look on thee.
4. †to bring, †drive to scorn, to shame, disgrace; †to do (a person) scorn, to insult; †to get the scorn (Scottish), to be treated with contumely; †to hold, †have scorn at, of, to entertain a feeling of contempt for; to laugh to scorn, now archaic and literary (see laugh v. Phrases 1a); †to make scorn at, to, to mock, deride; †to put a scorn on, upon, to offer indignity to; to speak scorn of, to revile, speak opprobriously of; †to take scorn at, to despise; †to take scorn, to be indignant that, to disdain to do something; †to take at or in scorn, to feel as an indignity; to think scorn of, to despise; to think (it) scorn, to disdain (const. that or infinitive), now archaic and literary.In the 16–17th centuries foul often appears as an intensive qualification of scorn in these phrases. Cf. quot. c1275 at sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)]
forhowc900
overhowOE
withhuheOE
forhecchec1230
scorna1275
despise1297
spise13..
to set at a pease, at a pie's heel, at a pin's fee1303
to hold, have scorn at, ofc1320
to think scorn ofc1320
to set short by1377
to tell short of1377
to set naught or nought (nothing, not anything) by1390
spitea1400
contemnc1425
nought1440
overlooka1450
mainprizec1450
lightly1451
vilipendc1470
indeign1483
misprize1483
dain?1518
to look down on (also upon)1539
floccipend1548
contempta1555
to take scorn ata1566
embase1577
sdeign1590
disesteem1594
vilify1599
to set lightly, coldly1604
disrepute1611
to hold cheapa1616
avile1616
floccify1623
meprize1633
to think (also believe, etc.) meanly of1642
publican1648
naucify1653
disesteem1659
invalue1673
to set light, at light1718
sneeze1806
sniff1837
derry1896
to hold no brief for1918
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > think or behave contemptuously [verb (intransitive)] > with contemptuous rejection
to think (it) scornc1320
daina1400
hinch1631
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > treat with contempt
unworthc950
to make scorn at, toc1320
to take in vainc1330
despise1377
rebuke?a1400
despite1481
indign1490
to make a mumming of1523
flock1545
scandalize1566
to make coarse account of1578
misregard1582
overpeer1583
to make a pish at (also of)1593
to make a push at1600
to bite by the nose1602
blurta1625
to piss ona1625
to make wash-way of, with1642
trample1646
huff1677
snouch1761
to walk over (the course)1779
to run over ——1816
snoot1928
shaft1959
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
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > disgrace or dishonour > [verb (transitive)]
to say or speak (one) shamec950
to bring, make to shondOE
awemOE
shamec1175
unmenskc1225
to bring, shape, turn to shamea1250
to do villainy or a villainy1303
to bring, drive to scornc1320
honisha1325
dishonesta1382
unhonourc1384
defamea1387
slandera1387
disworshipa1450
vituper1484
disfamea1533
to shend ofc1540
defect1542
dishonour1568
disgrace1573
escandalize1574
mishonour1576
yshend1579
scandalize1583
traduce1605
beclown1609
dedecorate1609
disdignify1625
vilify1651
lynch1836
the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > humiliate [verb (transitive)] > feel as a humiliation
to take at or in scornc1320
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > disdain to do something
disdainc1380
to tell scorn1477
contemn1510
to think (it) scornc1515
to take scorn1575
scorn1605
coya1616
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrespect > insult > [verb (transitive)]
heanc950
to say or speak (one) shamec950
to say or speak shame of, on, byc950
affrontc1330
dispersona1400
to say language against1423
insautc1425
contumely1483
cag1504
to put (a person) to villainya1513
fuffle1536
to bring, drive to scorn1569
ascorn1570
affrent1578
injure?a1600
insult1620
to put a scorn on, upon1633
upbraid1665
topa1700
chopse1854
burn1914
rank1934
the mind > emotion > anger > indignation or resentment > be indignant at or resent [verb (transitive)]
to take in (also on, to) griefc1325
to bear (a person or thing) hard (also heavily, heavy, etc.)c1384
to take agrief?a1400
disdaina1513
stomach1523
to take it amiss1530
to have a grudge against (to, at)1531
to think amiss1533
envy1557
to take‥in (the) snuff (or to snuff)1560
to take snuff1565
to take scorn1581
to take indignly1593
to bear (one) upon (also in) the spleen1596
spleena1629
disresent1652
indign1652
miff1797
pin1934
the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > humiliate [verb (transitive)]
anitherOE
fellOE
lowc1175
to lay lowc1225
to set adownc1275
snuba1340
meekc1350
depose1377
aneantizea1382
to bring lowa1387
declinea1400
meekenc1400
to pull downc1425
avalec1430
to-gradea1440
to put downc1440
humble1484
alow1494
deject?1521
depress1526
plucka1529
to cut (rarely to cast down) the comb of?1533
to bring down1535
to bring basec1540
adbass1548
diminish1560
afflict1561
to take down1562
to throw down1567
debase1569
embase1571
diminute1575
to put (also thrust) a person's nose out of jointc1576
exinanite1577
to take (a person) a peg lower1589
to take (a person) down a peg (or two)1589
disbasea1592
to take (a person) down a buttonhole (or two)1592
comb-cut1593
unpuff1598
atterr1605
dismount1608
annihilate1610
crest-fall1611
demit1611
pulla1616
avilea1617
to put a scorn on, upon1633
mortify1639
dimit1658
to put a person's pipe out1720
to let down1747
to set down1753
humiliate1757
to draw (a person's) eyeteeth1789
start1821
squabash1822
to wipe a person's eye1823
to crop the feathers of1827
embarrass1839
to knock (also take, etc.) (a person) off his or her perch1864
to sit upon ——1864
squelch1864
to cut out of all feather1865
to sit on ——1868
to turn down1870
to score off1882
to do (a person) in the eye1891
puncture1908
to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place1908
to cut down to size1927
flatten1932
to slap (a person) down1938
punk1963
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > disparagement or depreciation > disparage or depreciate [verb (transitive)]
littleeOE
low1340
dispraisec1386
minish1402
deroge1427
detractc1449
descryc1450
detrayc1475
dismerit1484
decline1509
vilipend1509
disprize?1518
disable1528
derogatea1530
elevate1541
disparagea1556
detrect1563
debase1565
demerit1576
vilify1586
disgrace1589
detracta1592
besparage1592
enervate1593
obtrect1595
extenuate1601
disvalue1605
disparagon1610
undervalue1611
avile1615
debaucha1616
to cry down1616
debate1622
decry1641
atomize1645
underrate1646
naucify1653
dedignify1654
stuprate1655
de-ample1657
dismagn1657
slur1660
voguec1661
depreciate1666
to run down1671
baffle1674
lacken1674
sneer1706
diminish1712
substract1728
down1780
belittle1789
carbonify1792
to speak scorn of1861
to give one a back-cap1903
minoritize1947
mauvais langue1952
rubbish1953
down-talk1959
marginalize1970
marginate1970
trash1975
neg1987
c1320 Beues 1357 Beues..louȝ hem alle þer to scorn.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5391 Scorn hym þought, & swor his heued þer truage schold nought so be leued.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 26455 His lauerd he driues to scorn.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 16701 To hym mekyll scorne they made.
a1400–50 Alexander 641 If any scolere in þe scole his skorne at him makis, He skapis him full skathely bot if he skyp better.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxii. 103 Þise smale men hase als grete scorne at þe grete men.
c1430 Chev. Assigne 264 And he of suche one gret skorne he þowte.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur viii. xvi. 297 Syre Sagramore loked vpon syre Tristram and hadde scorne of his wordes.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. iii. 417 That strong knyght toke his wordes at scorne and said he said it for mockery.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxxxiii. 259 He thinkes scorne to speke to me.
1523 T. Cromwell Speech to Parl. in R. B. Merriman Life & Lett. T. Cromwell (1902) I. 38 They wold thynck grete skorne, to take lether for our prynce.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cv[i]. 24 Yee they thought scorne of yt pleasaunt londe.
c1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) ii. 94 Thay wist not how to get him pynd, That thame had drevin to skorne.
a1566 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer (1577) iv. sig. V.viv Neyther can I thinke that Aristotle and Plato tooke scorne of the name of a perfect Courtier.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 213 Thus he passed..with Trumpes & Pipes of Reedes blowen before him, to do him the more scorne & despight.
1575 tr. A. Marlorat Apocalips 49 In Dathan, Core, Abyron: and in the Prophetes of Baal: all whych perished miserably for taking skorne to amend.
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Socrates Scholasticus i. vi, in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. 229 Neyther tooke I in scorne..that I coupled my selfe with you in those affayres.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Jan. 64 She..of my rurall musick holdeth scorne.
1581 M. Hanmer Iesuites Banner A 1 b Yee take scorne that I tearme him a cripled soldiour.
1593 R. Bancroft Daungerous Positions iv. i. 137 They doe take it in scorne to be thought so weake.
1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 333 They holde scorne to be taught.
1611 Bible (King James) Esther iii. 6 Hee thought scorne to lay hands on Mordecai alone. View more context for this quotation
1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 222 The God of heauen, Who in his great compassions, thought 't no scorne, That the Creator take the creatures forme.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 248 So his Steward..turn'd me out of doores. Which I tooke in that foule scorne..that in a kind of sullen and dogged fashion..I left the house.
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 617 Will they..not..thinke that you put a scorne upon them.
1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre ii. 53 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian All sat and ate with him, and put licentious scornes on him.
1681 R. Knox Hist. Ceylon 49 These gifts..he thinks scorn to receive.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) ii. iv The Lord..Shall..laugh to Scorn their furious Pride.
1820 C. A. Southey Ellen Fitzarthur 134 These are..Proofs that our lot ‘is fallen on evil days’, 'Mongst evil generations, who think scorn Of all authorities.
1856 F. E. Paget Owlet of Owlstone Edge 227 The worst manager among them thinks scorn of wastefulness in a superior.
1861 D. G. Rossetti tr. Dino Compagni in Early Ital. Poets ii. 196 Messer Corso spoke great scorn of Messer Vieri, calling him the Ass of the Gate.
1866 W. D. Howells Venetian Life 306 This was too much, and we laughed him to scorn.
1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest V. xxii. 35 The straightforward and business-like writs which did not think it scorn to speak to Englishmen in the English tongue.
Compounds
General attributive.
scorn-blighted adj.
ΚΠ
1819 R. L. Sheil Evadne ii. ii. 33 Be all who bear Colonna's name scorn-blighted.
scorn-pointing adj.
ΚΠ
1898 J. Arch Story of Life xi. 253 I made myself as blind as I could to the scorn-pointing finger pointed it ever so scornfully.
scorn-worthy adj.
ΚΠ
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 66 To make great prouision vpon small hope of vtterance, were to incurre a skorne-worthy losse.
1859 W. Anderson Discourses (1860) 19 It makes a most scorn-worthy exhibition of itself.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
scornv.
/skɔːn/, U.S. /skɔrn/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
α.
β. 1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 12481 Skorne nat, and seye þou wylt forsake þy synne, and eft aȝen hyt take.1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. xi. 221 ‘I nile not scorne’, quod scripture ‘but scryueyns liȝe’.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xvii. 178 Thei scornen, whan thei seen ony strange Folk goynge clothed.1449 R. Wenyngton in Paston Lett. & Papers (2005) III. 69 And dey bade me do my wurst, by cause I had so fewe schyppys and so smale, that they scornyd wyth me.c1520 M. Nisbet New Test. in Scots (1901) I. Matt. xxvii. 29 Thai knelit before him, and scornit, and said, Haile, king of Jewis.1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare viii. 406 And in like sorte Iuuenal an Heathen Poete scorneth at this folie.c1660 A. Wood Life (1891) I. 297 Scorning at anything that seemed formall.1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. iii. 73 She gecked and scorned at my northern speech and habit.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7397 Þa beþ hemm ȝarrkedd mare inoh. & werrse pine inn helle Þann iff þeȝȝ naffdenn herrd itt nohht. Ne skarnedd tær onnȝæness.
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
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 182 Hweðer se he deð scarneð him. lachȝeð þe alde ape lude tobismere.
a1300 E.E. Psalter ii. 4 Þat wones in heuen scorne þam salle, And lauerd sal snere with-alle.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1189 Bot þa þat wille him folow, he ledes And þam scornes and taries in his nedes.
c1386 G. Chaucer Second Nun's Tale 506 It is a shame that the peple shal So scorne thee and laughe at thy folye.
1421 Coventry Leet Bk. 27 Allso that no man throw ne cast at noo straunge man, ne skorn hym.
c1440 Ipomydon 323 That they hym scornyd wist he noght.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 133 ‘Quhom scornys thow?,’ quod Wallace.
a1513 W. Dunbar Ballat Abbot of Tungland in Poems (1998) I. 59 The ia him skrippit with a skryke And skornit him, as it was lyk.
1577 T. Kendall tr. Politianus et al. Flowers of Epigrammes f. 52v Replide the Goddesse: what? skornste thou in armour me?
1631 in S. R. Gardiner Rep. Cases Star Chamber & High Comm. (1886) 208 He that in the two former partes of his life mocked and scorned all both the message and messengers of God.
3.
a. To hold in disdain, to contemn, despise.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)]
forhowc900
overhowOE
withhuheOE
forhecchec1230
scorna1275
despise1297
spise13..
to set at a pease, at a pie's heel, at a pin's fee1303
to hold, have scorn at, ofc1320
to think scorn ofc1320
to set short by1377
to tell short of1377
to set naught or nought (nothing, not anything) by1390
spitea1400
contemnc1425
nought1440
overlooka1450
mainprizec1450
lightly1451
vilipendc1470
indeign1483
misprize1483
dain?1518
to look down on (also upon)1539
floccipend1548
contempta1555
to take scorn ata1566
embase1577
sdeign1590
disesteem1594
vilify1599
to set lightly, coldly1604
disrepute1611
to hold cheapa1616
avile1616
floccify1623
meprize1633
to think (also believe, etc.) meanly of1642
publican1648
naucify1653
disesteem1659
invalue1673
to set light, at light1718
sneeze1806
sniff1837
derry1896
to hold no brief for1918
α.
β. c1480 (a1400) St. George 417 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 188 Nocht-þane, þo þu oure godis skorne, þu tellis ws first quhar þou wes born.c1500 Young Children's Bk. (Ashm. 61) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 19 Scorne not þe pore, ne hurte no mane.a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. B2v Learne thou of Faustus manly fortitude, And scorne those ioyes thou neuer shalt possesse.1600 in T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia (1633) i. xiv. 87 Hee must be maintained with a convenient attendance, that they may not scorne him.1669 J. Dryden Wild Gallant iii. i. 37 Come, come, you'r a slanderful huswife, and I squorn your hallottry trick.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 7 Nor scorn the pipe: Amyntas, to be taught, With all his kisses would my skill have bought.1697 W. Congreve Mourning Bride iii. i. 39 Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd.1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the First 19 'Tis not in Folly, not to scorn a Fool.1813 W. Scott Rokeby i. 13 Death had he seen.., Knew all his shapes, and scorned them all.1827 W. Wordsworth Misc. Sonn. ii. i. 1 Scorn not the Sonnet.1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xiii. i, in Maud & Other Poems 44 To be scorn'd by one that I scorn.a1275 Prov. Ælfred 238 in Old Eng. Misc. 117 Bi-foren he þe bimened, bi-hindin he þe scarned.
b. figurative. Of things: †To defy, be secure against (obsolete); also poetic to be immeasurably superior to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > resist > resist completely (of things)
despisea1398
scorn1648
defy1715
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being better or superior > [verb (transitive)] > vastly
overpeer1565
scorn1764
tower1791
1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. xviii. 130 Such is this Golfe, whose entrance is straitned with two rocks or mountains on each side (which would well become two great Peeces and so scorne a whole fleet).
1764 O. Goldsmith Traveller 17 Where lawns extend that scorn Arcadian pride.
4. With infinitive as object. To feel it beneath one, to disdain indignantly to do something.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > disdain to do something
disdainc1380
to tell scorn1477
contemn1510
to think (it) scornc1515
to take scorn1575
scorn1605
coya1616
1605 Hist. Tryall Cheualry sig. C2 I scorne to humble the least part about me.
1701 D. Defoe True-born Englishman ii. 39 They scorn their Laws or Governors to fear.
1780 E. Burke Speech Bristol previous to Election 18 We were saved the disgrace of their formal reception, only because the Congress scorned to receive them.
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott (1839) II. 104 He scorned for a long while to attach any consequence to this complete alternation of habits.
1885 E. Arnold Secret of Death 23 Thou Scorned'st to tread the path of wealth, wherein The foolish perish.
Compounds
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > learner > [noun] > difficult or unwilling pupil or student
scorn-book1682
sweat-hog1976
1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin i. Argt. St. George oth' back-side of the Horn-book, The Dragon kills, to Humour Scorn-book.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > golden yellow
gildenOE
goldena1382
goldya1398
dory1398
goldc1400
goldisha1425
sunlyc1425
goldlya1450
aureatec1450
gildedc1450
giltenc1450
scorn-golda1586
Pactolian1586
aureal1587
gold colour1648
gold-coloured1674
spun gold1728
aurulent1731
aurelian1791
deaurated1818
Tuscan1830
corn-coloured1854
old gold1877
buttercup yellow1880
aureoline1881
sun gold1887
Tuscan-coloured1905
guinea-gold1938
spun-golden1978
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) i. sig. H3v Braue crest to him hir scorn-gold haire did yeeld.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.c1175v.c1175- poor rate
- poor relation
- poor relief
- poor richard
- poor robin
- poor roll
- poor school
- poor show
- poor snake
- poor soul
- poor steward
- poor tax
- poor white
- poor white folk
- poor white folksy
- poor white trash
- poor white trashy
- poor-ass
- poor-bettering
- poor-blooded
- poor-born
- poor-charactered
- poor-clad
- poor-cod
- poor-feeding