Asteism — As te*ism, n. [Gr. ? refined and witty talk, fr. ? of the town, polite, witty, fr. ? city: cf. F. ast[ e]isme.] (Rhet.) Genteel irony; a polite and ingenious manner of deriding another. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
asteism — genteel irony, polite mockery, 1580s, from Gk. asteismos wit, witticism, from asteios of a city or town (as opposed to country ), from asty town, city, especially (without the article) Athens … Etymology dictionary
asteism — /asˈtē i zm/ (rhetoric) noun Refined irony ORIGIN: Gr asty, asteōs a town (seen as a place of refinement) … Useful english dictionary
asteism — noun Polite irony; a genteel and ingenious manner of deriding another … Wiktionary
asteism — n. Genteel irony, polite banter or raillery, delicate ridicule … New dictionary of synonyms
asteism — n. polite irony … Dictionary of difficult words
Ridicule — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Ridicule >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 ridicule ridicule derision Sgm: N 1 sardonic smile sardonic smile sardonic grin Sgm: N 1 irrision irrision Sgm: N 1 scoffing scoffing &c.(disrespect) 929 Sgm: N 1 … English dictionary for students
Astyanax — son of Hector and Andromache ( Iliad ), Greek, lit. lord of the city, from asty city + anax chief, lord, master (see ASTEISM (Cf. asteism)). Also the epithet of certain gods … Etymology dictionary
astute — 1610s, from L. astutus crafty, wary, shrewd; sagacious, expert, from astus cunning, cleverness, adroitness, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Gk. asty town, a word borrowed into Latin and with an overtone of city sophistication (Cf. ASTEISM (Cf.… … Etymology dictionary
banter — I. v. a. Jeer, joke, rally, quiz, chaff (colloq.), ridicule, twit, deride, mock, make fun of, make sport of, make merry with, play upon, make a butt of. II. n. Raillery, ridicule, mockery, derision, persiflage, pleasantry, badinage, asteism,… … New dictionary of synonyms