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verspotten

to mock

verb fer-SHPOT-ten Less Common
Communication Speech

Also means

to ridicule

Usage Note

verspotten means to mock or deride openly: jemanden verspotten. It is transitive and stronger than gentle teasing (necken). The root Spott means scorn or derision. Use it when speech aims to humiliate or make someone a laughing-stock.

Examples

"Die anderen Kinder verspotteten ihn wegen seiner Brille."

Natural Translation

The other children mocked him because of his glasses.

Literal Translation

The other children mocked him because-of his glasses.

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