lampoon
UK[læmˈpuːn]US[læmˈpuːn]
v
to publicly criticize someone or something by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm in a speech or a text.
n
a speech or text that uses ridicule, irony, or sarcasm to criticize someone or something.
Morpheme Breakdown
lampoon
lampoon
unsegmentable
Etymology
the word 'lampoon' entered english in the mid-17th century from the french 'lampon', a term for a satirical poem or song. this french word is believed to originate from the refrain 'lampons!'—an imperative form meaning "let us drink!"—commonly found in rowdy, satirical drinking songs of the period. the semantic evolution connects the boisterous, mocking spirit of these tavern songs to the modern sense of a harsh, public satire. thus, a word born from a convivial drinking chorus came to signify a form of sharp, often malicious, written or verbal ridicule.
Analysis
Structure: lampoon (unsegmentable)
the entire word 'lampoon' is a simplex unit. it is a loanword from french, which itself derived from the french refrain 'lampons', meaning "let us drink". its ultimate origin is uncertain but may be from a germanic source.
Examples
the political cartoonist was known to mercilessly lampoon corrupt officials in the daily newspaper.
his latest stand-up routine is a brilliant lampoon of celebrity culture and social media influencers.
the article was less a critique and more a vicious lampoon of the author's personal life.