Mocks

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To make fun of someone or something in a cruel or derisive manner
2. To imitate someone or something in a jocular or sarcastic way
3. To ridicule or tease by mimicking actions, behaviors, or characteristics in a humorous context

Etymology: "Mocks" is the third-person singular present form of the verb "mock," so it describes someone who derides or jeers at something. The verb arrived in Middle English as "mokken," borrowed from the Old French "mocquer" or "moquier," meaning to deride or jeer. The French verb's own origins lie in the Germanic languages, where a closely related root meant something rather different: to low like cattle, to bellow, or to mumble with the mouth half-open. That older sense survives in relatives across the Germanic family. German "mucksen" still means to utter a word or to grumble, and Dutch "mokken" means to sulk or pout. The verb seems to have passed into French with the idea of muttered complaint or grumbling, and from there it took on the sharper sense of open scorn that English uses today.

Synonyms: teases, ridicules, derides, taunts, scoffs

Antonyms: applauds, praises, lauds, compliments, supports