What is "to laugh to scorn"

Scorn \Scorn\ (sk[^o]rn), n. [OE. scorn, scarn, scharn, OF. escarn, escharn, eschar, of German origin; cf. OHG. skern mockery, skern[=o]n to mock; but cf. also OF. escorner to mock.]

1. Extreme and lofty contempt; haughty disregard; that disdain which springs from the opinion of the utter meanness and unworthiness of an object.

   Scorn at first makes after love the more.
   --Shak.

   And wandered backward as in scorn, To wait an [ae]on to be born.
   --Emerson.

2. An act or expression of extreme contempt.

   Every sullen frown and bitter scorn But fanned the fuel that too fast did burn.
   --Dryden.

3. An object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision.

   Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
   --Ps. xliv. 13.

   To think scorn, to regard as worthy of scorn or contempt; to disdain. ``He thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone.''
   --Esther iii. 6.

   To laugh to scorn, to deride; to make a mock of; to ridicule as contemptible.

   Syn: Contempt; disdain; derision; contumely; despite; slight; dishonor; mockery.

Laugh \Laugh\, v. t.

1. To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.

   Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?
   --Shak.

   I shall laugh myself to death.
   --Shak.

2. To express by, or utter with, laughter; -- with out. From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause. --Shak. To laugh away.

   1. To drive away by laughter; as, to laugh away regret.

   2. To waste in hilarity. ``Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.'' --Shak. To laugh down.

      1. To cause to cease or desist by laughter; as, to laugh down a speaker.

      2. To cause to be given up on account of ridicule; as, to laugh down a reform.

         To laugh one out of, to cause one by laughter or ridicule to abandon or give up; as, to laugh one out of a plan or purpose.

         To laugh to scorn, to deride; to treat with mockery, contempt, and scorn; to despise.