Where Does Ridicule Come from?

Both words come from the Latin redire which means to laugh. When you are ridiculed, you are made a laughing stock, but being the object of ridicule is never funny.

What is the word ridicule mean by?

: the act of making fun of someone or something in a cruel or harsh way : harsh comments made by people who are laughing at someone or something. ridicule. verb.

What is the base word of ridicule?

Origin of ridicule

First recorded in 1665–75; from Latin rīdiculum “a joke,” equivalent to rīdēre “to laugh” + -i--i- + -culum-cule².