deridiculum Latin · revision 36970

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la rīdeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [deː.riːˈdɪ.kʊ.ɫũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [de.riˈdiː.ku.lum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dērīdiculum''' ''n'' (genitive dērīdiculī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|dērīdiculus|t=very laughable]], its neuter used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) That adjective is formed from [[m|la|dērīdeō|t=to laugh at, mock]],^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010) a compound of [[m|la|dē-]] and [[m|la|rīdeō|t=to laugh]]; de Vaan finds no good Indo-European etymology for the simple verb.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Plautus,^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008) whose ''Amphitruo'' has ''quid tū mē dērīdiculī grātiā sīc salūtās?'', “why do you greet me like this, in mockery?”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant both mockery itself and an object of mockery.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Terence has ''prō dērīdiculō ac dēlectāmentō putāre'', to treat someone as a butt of mockery and amusement,^(Georges 1913) and the phrases ''dērīdiculō esse'' and ''dērīdiculō habērī'', to be a laughing-stock, are found in Plautus, Tacitus and Apuleius.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Tacitus also uses it of a grotesque bodily deformity,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010) and Quintilian has the plural for absurdities.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''dērīdiculī grātiā'', in mockery.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus has ''dērīdiculō esse'' and uses it of a deformity.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius has ''dērīdiculō habērī''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|mockery|alt=Mockery]], [[m|en|ridicule]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # A ridiculous thing or quality, an [[m|en|absurdity]]; an object of [[m|en|derision]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A grotesque [[m|en|deformity]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}