scornful

adjective (scornful, more scornful, most scornful)

«scornful» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

Showing that you think someone or something is worthless, silly or not good enough. tree →
A scornful look, laugh or voice is one that mocks or looks down on someone. tree →

In the lessons

A feelings and character word in stories: it tells the reader a character feels superior and does not respect someone. Writers pair it with a look, laugh, voice or glance: «a scornful laugh», «scornful of». In Alice in Wonderland many creatures are scornful of Alice, like the Caterpillar who asks «You! Who are you?» in a scornful tone; in The Wind in the Willows the weasels are scornful of the animals of the river bank until Badger returns. In everyday life being scornful hurts people and is a kind of rudeness.

Examples

She gave a scornful laugh when he said he could beat her at chess. tree →
«You call that a sandcastle?» said Tom in a scornful voice. tree →
The Caterpillar looked at Alice in a scornful way. tree →
Don't be scornful of other people's ideas; listen first. tree →
The older girls were scornful of the little ones' game. tree →
He was scornful of anyone who supported the other football team. tree →
Her scornful glance made him feel very small. tree →
One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, an Ass brayed a scornful remark as he passed. tree →

Note

Adjective; the noun is «scorn» and the adverb «scornfully». «Scornful of something» means looking down on it. Do not mix up with «scorn» used as a verb: «She scorned the offer». Opposite: respectful, admiring.

In Jewish tradition

Mocking and proud. Psalm 1 names the scornful as one of three groups the happy person avoids.

Interpretation. Tradition reads "the seat of the scornful" as warning against bad company, and Psalm 1 opens the whole Book of Psalms with it.

Examples

Scornful men set a city in a blaze; but wise men turn away wrath. (Writings PRO.29.8, JPS 1917) tree →
BOOK I HAPPY IS the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful. (Writings PSA.1.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «scornful» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«scornful» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «scornful» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«scornful» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.

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