Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Scorn?

\Scorn\ (sk[^o]rn), n. [OE. scorn, scarn, scharn, OF. escarn, escharn, eschar, of German origin; cf. OHG. skern mockery, skern[=o]n to mock; but cf. also OF. escorner to mock.] 1. Extreme and lofty contempt; haughty disregard; that disdain which springs from the opinion of the utter meanness and unworthiness of an object. Scorn at first makes after love the more. --Shak. And wandered backward as in scorn, To wait an [ae]on to be born. --Emerson. 2. An act or expression of extreme contempt. Every sullen frown and bitter scorn But fanned the fuel that too fast did burn. --Dryden. 3. An object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. --Ps. xliv. 13. {To think scorn}, to regard as worthy of scorn or contempt; to disdain. ``He thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone.'' --Esther iii. 6. {To laugh to scorn}, to deride; to make a mock of; to ridicule as contemptible. Syn: Contempt; disdain; derision; contumely; despite; slight; dishonor; mockery.
\Scorn\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scorned} (sk[^o]rnd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Scoring}.] [OE. scornen, scarnen, schornen, OF. escarnir, escharnir. See {Scorn}, n.] 1. To hold in extreme contempt; to reject as unworthy of regard; to despise; to contemn; to disdain. I scorn thy meat; 't would choke me. --Shak. This my long sufferance, and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. --Milton. We scorn what is in itself contemptible or disgraceful. --C. J. Smith. 2. To treat with extreme contempt; to make the object of insult; to mock; to scoff at; to deride. His fellow, that lay by his bed's side, Gan for to laugh, and scorned him full fast. --Chaucer. To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously. --Shak. Syn: To contemn; despise; disdain. See {Contemn}.
\Scorn\ (sk[^o]rn), v. i. To scoff; to mock; to show contumely, derision, or reproach; to act disdainfully. He said mine eyes were black and my hair black, And, now I am remembered, scorned at me. --Shak.