different between ataunt vs taunt

English

Alternative forms

• ataunto

Etymology

French autant (“as much (as possible)”).

Adjective

ataunt (not comparable)

1. (nautical) Fully rigged, as a vessel; with all sails set; set on end or set right.

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /t??nt/, enPR: tônt
• (US) IPA^(key): /t?nt/, enPR: tônt
  • (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /t?nt/, enPR: tänt
• Rhymes: -??nt, -??nt

Etymology 1

Middle French tanter (“to tempt, try, provoke”), variant of Old French tempter (“to try”). Doublet of tempt.

Verb

taunt (third-person singular simple present taunts, present participle taunting, simple past and past participle taunted)

1. to make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner.

Translations

Noun

taunt (plural taunts)

1. A scornful or mocking remark; a jeer or mockery

Translations

Etymology 2

Compare Old French tant (“so great”), French tant (“so much”), Latin tantus (“of such size, so great, so much”). See ataunt.

Adjective

taunt (comparative more taunt, superlative most taunt)

1. (obsolete, nautical) Very high or tall.

   a ship with taunt masts

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Totten to this entry?)

References

• taunt at OneLook Dictionary Search
• taunt in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.