ridicule

ridicule · verb, noun, adjective¹

1. French · borrowed fromridiculer
2. Latin · borrowed fromrīdiculum
3. Latin · derived fromrīdiculus“laughable, comical, amusing, absurd, ridiculous”
4. French · borrowed fromridicule
5. English todayridicule

The obsolete adjective is borrowed from French ridicule, from Latin rīdiculus (“laughable, comical, amusing, absurd, ridiculous”), from ridere (“to laugh”). The noun is either from French, noun use of adjective, or from Latin rīdiculum, noun use of neuter of rīdiculus. The verb is from the noun or else from French ridiculer, from ridicule.

ridicule · noun²

1. French · borrowed fromridicule“reticule”
2. English todayridicule

Apparently from French ridicule (“reticule”), probably a punning alteration of réticule after ridicule (“ridicule”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 18th c. A small woman's handbag; a reticule.