Make Your Point > Archived Issues > DERISION

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connect today's word to others: To deride people is to make fun of them; something derisive makes fun of people; and derision is the act of making fun of people. We got those words from the Latin word ridere, which means "to laugh"--and that's why they look a bit like the words ridicule and ridiculous. You can also put deride into a group with detract and deferential: in all three of these words, the "de-" part means the same thing. What does it mean? ... ... (Keep scrolling for the answer.) ... ... The "de-" part means "down:" to deride people is, literally, to laugh down at them. make your point with... "DERISION" Derision is the act of treating people (or things) with scorn. In other words, derision is making fun of people (or things) in a mean or cruel way. Pronunciation: dih RIZ yun (rhymes with "decision" and "division") Part of speech: Usually an uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "advice," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of advice," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many advices." Likewise, talk about "the derision," "this derision," "their derision," "such derision," "no derision," and so on, but we don’t often say "derisions.") Other common forms: deride, derided, deriding; derisive, derisively How to use it: First, let's look at how to use the noun.  Say that someone or something draws, earns, spurs, or prompts derision: "The scandal drew derision from the media."  Often we say that something is met with derision, or greeted with derision: "The choice was met with derision." Or, say that someone or something is worthy of derision, or is an object of derision: "Our chaotic administration is an object of international derision." Or, say that someone views (or treats) something with derision: "They view our customs with derision." "They treat our traditions with derision." You can also talk about a specific person's derision: "The president remains the object of this comedian's derision." "The comment immediately drew the audience's derision." Or, say that someone fears or expects derision. You can also talk about chants of derision, terms of derision, names of derision, etc. Occasionally we'll say that someone or something is brought into derision ("that hastily-prepared legislation has been brought into derision"), or that someone has (or holds) something in derision ("the public holds that useless law in derision"). Next, let's look at the verb. Talk about people deriding things, or people deriding other people, often for or as something bad: "They derided him for his foolish policies." "She's often derided as a micromanager." Lastly, here's the adjective! Talk about derisive terms and names and nicknames, derisive snorts and laughter, derisive comments and commentary, derisive reactions, derisive tweets and messages and publications, etc. examples: Despite its simple sincerity and catchy tune, Rebecca Black's cheesy song "Friday" met with derision all across the Internet. She has no experience, no expertise, no eloquence, no original thought in her head, nothing that justifies her fame or her lofty position--this is why the public continues to treat her with derision. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "derision" means when you can explain it without saying "mockery" or "disparagement." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Something) was widely derided as (a silly thing of some sort, or a failure of some sort)." Example: "With an 18% graduation rate, DeVry University has been widely derided as a scam." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with some beautifully worded passages from the Bible as we recall words we've studied before. From our previous issue: "The words of the wise are like g___s, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd." (English Standard Version, Ecclesiastes, chapter 12, verse 11.) What's the missing word? It means "sharp sticks for poking animals (like cattle), so that they go where you want them to go." Answer: goads. Try this today: "I a__re you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases." (English Standard Version, Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 7.) What's the missing word? It means "to be very serious and earnest as you're commanding or begging people to do something." review today's word: 1. One opposite of DERISIVE is A. UPRISING. B. UNIFYING. C. REVERENT. 2. The top review is pure derision, concluding with the assertion that _____. A. the product is one of those rarities that improves one's quality of life B. its fifteen advantages only slightly outweigh its fourteen disadvantages C. it would be wiser to light one's wallet on fire than to purchase the product Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. C