Nearby Words

taunter

[tawnt, tahnt] Origin

taunt

2[tawnt, tahnt]
adjective Nautical.
tall, as a mast.

Origin:
1490–1500; origin uncertain

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Taunter is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

taunt

1[tawnt, tahnt]
verb (used with object)
1.
to reproach in a sarcastic, insulting, or jeering manner; mock.
2.
to provoke by taunts; twit.
noun
3.
an insulting gibe or sarcasm; scornful reproach or challenge.
4.
Obsolete. an object of insulting gibes or scornful reproaches.

Origin:
1505–15; origin uncertain

taunt·er, noun
taunt·ing·ly, adverb
un·taunt·ed, adjective
un·taunt·ing, adjective
un·taunt·ing·ly, adverb


1. censure, upbraid, flout, insult. 2, 3. jeer. See ridicule. 3. scoff, derision, insult, censure, ridicule.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
taunt1 (tɔːnt)
 
vb
1.  to provoke or deride with mockery, contempt, or criticism
2.  to tease; tantalize
 
n
3.  a jeering remark
4.  archaic the object of mockery
 
[C16: from French phrase tant pour tant like for like, rejoinder]
 
'taunter1
 
n
 
'taunting1
 
adj
 
'tauntingly1
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

taunt
1515, possibly from M.Fr. tanter, tenter "to tempt, try, provoke," variant of tempter "to try" (see tempt). Or from M.Fr. tant pour tant "so much for so much, tit for tat," on notion of "sarcastic rejoinder." The noun is attested from 1529.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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