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Webster 1913 Edition


Mockery

Mock′er-y

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Mockeries
(#)
.
[F.
moquerie
.]
1.
The act of mocking, deriding, and exposing to contempt, by mimicry, by insincere imitation, or by a false show of earnestness; a counterfeit appearance.
It is, as the air, invulnerable,
And our vain blows malicious
mockery
.
Shakespeare
Grace at meals is now generally so performed as to look more like a
mockery
upon devotion than any solemn application of the mind to God.
Law.
And bear about the
mockery
of woe.
Pope.
2.
Insulting or contemptuous action or speech; contemptuous merriment; derision; ridicule.
The laughingstock of fortune’s
mockeries
.
Spenser.
3.
Subject of laughter, derision, or sport.
The cruel handling of the city whereof they made a
mockery
.
2 Macc. viii. 17.

Webster 1828 Edition


Mockery

MOCK'ERY

,
Noun.
The act of deriding and exposing to contempt, by mimicking the words or actions of another.
1.
Derision; ridicule; sportive insult or contempt; contemptuous merriment at persons or things.
Grace at meals is now generally so performed as to look more like mockery upon devotion, than any solemn application of the mind to God.
2.
Sport; subject of laughter.
Of the holy place they made a mockery.
3.
Vain imitation or effort; that which deceives, disappoints or frustrates.
It is as the air, invulnerable,
And our vain blows malicious mockery.
4.
Imitation; counterfeit appearance; false show.
And bear about the mockery of woe
To midnight dances.

Definition 2024


mockery

mockery

English

Noun

mockery (countable and uncountable, plural mockeries)

  1. The action of mocking; ridicule, derision.
  2. Something so lacking in necessary qualities as to inspire ridicule; a laughing-stock.
  3. (obsolete) Something insultingly imitative; an offensively futile action, gesture etc.
  4. Mimicry, imitation, now usually in a derogatory sense; a travesty, a ridiculous simulacrum.
    The defendant wasn't allowed to speak at his own trial - it was a mockery of justice.

Usage notes

  • We often use make a mockery of someone or something, meaning to mock them. See also Appendix:Collocations of do, have, make, and take

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:ridicule

Translations