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Webster 1913 Edition


Scoff

Scoff

(?; 115)
,
Noun.
[OE.
scof
; akin to OFries.
schof
, OHG.
scoph
, Icel.
skaup
, and perh. to E.
shove
.]
1.
Derision; ridicule; mockery; derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
With
scoffs
, and scorns, and contumelious taunts.
Shakespeare
2.
An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
The
scoff
of withered age and beardless youth.
Cowper.

Scoff

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Scoffed
(?; 115)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Scoffing
.]
[Cf. Dan.
skuffe
to deceive, delude, Icel.
skopa
to scoff, OD.
schoppen
. See
Scoff
,
Noun.
]
To show insolent ridicule or mockery; to manifest contempt by derisive acts or language; – often with at.
Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway,
And fools who came to
scoff
, remained to pray.
Goldsmith.
God’s better gift they
scoff
at and refuse.
Cowper.
Syn. – To sneer; mock; gibe; jeer. See
Sneer
.

Scoff

,
Verb.
T.
To treat or address with derision; to assail scornfully; to mock at.
To
scoff
religion is ridiculously proud and immodest.
Glanvill.

Webster 1828 Edition


Scoff

SCOFF

,
Verb.
I.
[Gr. The primary sense is probably to throw. But I do not find the word in the English and Greek sense, in any modern language except the English.]
To treat with insolent ridicule, mockery or contumelious language; to manifest contempt by derision; with at. To scoff at religion and sacred things is evidence of extreme weakness and folly, as well as of wickedness.
They shall scoff at the kings. Hab. 1.

SCOFF

,
Verb.
T.
To treat with derision or scorn.

SCOFF

,
Noun.
Derision, ridicule, mockery or reproach, expressed in language of contempt; expression of scorn or contempt.
With scoffs and scorns and contumelious taunts.

Definition 2024


scoff

scoff

English

Noun

scoff (plural scoffs)

  1. Derision; ridicule; a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
    • Shakespeare
      With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts.
    • 1852, The Dublin University Magazine (page 66)
      There were sneers, and scoffs, and inuendoes of some; prophecies of failure in a hundred ways []
  2. An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
    • Cowper
      The scoff of withered age and beardless youth.
Synonyms
Translations

Verb

scoff (third-person singular simple present scoffs, present participle scoffing, simple past and past participle scoffed)

  1. To jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision.
    • Goldsmith
      Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, / And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray.
Synonyms
Translations

Etymology 2

From Afrikaans.

Noun

scoff (plural scoffs)

  1. (South Africa) Food.
  2. (British Army) Food.
Translations

Verb

scoff (third-person singular simple present scoffs, present participle scoffing, simple past and past participle scoffed)

  1. (Britain) To eat food quickly.
  2. (South Africa) To eat.
  3. (British Army) To eat.
Synonyms
Translations

See also