katagelasticism

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Obtaining pleasure from laughing at or mocking others.

Pronunciation

/ˌkætəd͡ʒəˈlæstɪsɪzm̩/

Word forms

katagelasticism

Etymology

Coined by Willibald Ruch and René T. Proyer, assisted by Christian F. Hempelmann and Sean Harrigan, from Ancient Greek καταγελαστής (katagelastḗs, “mocker”), from καταγελάω (katageláō, “to laugh at, jeer at, laugh down”), from κατά (katá, “downwards”) + γελάω (geláō, “to laugh”).

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