Also 6–7 tant. [See TAUNT sb.1]
† 1. intr. To make a smart or effective rejoinder; to answer back in equivalent terms; to exchange banter. Obs.
1513. More, Rich. III., in Hall, Chron. (1548), 16 b. [Jane Shore] had a proper wytte … somtyme tantyng without displeasure, but not without disporte.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, ii. 37. To turney or to tante with me ye ar to fare to seke.
1548. Thomas, Ital. Dict. (1567), Motteggiare, to taunt pretely, or to cutte another mans woordes wittily or finely.
† 2. trans. To answer (a person) with a bantering or mocking rejoinder; to ‘chaff,’ banter. Obs.
1515. Barclay, Egloges, II. (1570), B iv/1. If thou call for ought by worde, signe or becke, Then Jacke with the bushe shall taunt thee with a chek.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 58. The king receyued him … taunting him iestingly and merily, as though one Realme were not able to hold them both.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., VII. (S.T.S.), 8. This man tane in the feild the Bruse mirrilie tantis, and sayis, Welcome father, says he.
b. dial. (See quot.)
a. 1825. Forby, Voc E. Anglia, Taunt, v. to teize, to pester with silly questions, importunate entreaties, or any mode of minute vexation.
3. To reproach (a person) with something in a sarcastic, scornful, or insulting way.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 363 b. Than waxed he also more angry, and … taunted them with sore rebukes.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Increpare probris, to taunte with reprochful woordes.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 571. Mamurra, whom the Poet Catullus … so tanted and reuiled in his verses.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1840), 66. Taunting him with want of courage to leap into the great pit.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xiii. 103. It ill became a person … who did not dress nearly as well as themselves, to taunt his betters with poverty.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xxii. 386. They taunted him with cowardice.
b. intr. To utter taunts or stinging reproaches.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 306. I am not so cleane without experience, but I could taunte againe.
1577. Fulke, Conjut. Purg., 370. You taunt at the author of that booke.
a. 1688. Bunyan, Israel’s Hope Encouraged, Wks. (ed. Offor), I. 613. Those very men that are pleased to taunt at this kind of inference.
1802. Marian Moore, Lascelles, II. 21. Mr. Richards was taunting at the disappointed Miss le Gros.
1833. Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bound, i. 91. Here, now, taunt on!
c. trans. with obj. cl. To say tauntingly. rare.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. N.-cap, II. 462. Folk may taunt That half your rock-built wall is rubble-heap! Ibid. (1878), La Saisiaz, 299. Taunt not ‘Human work ape work divine?’
4. trans. To drive or get by taunting; to provoke.
1813. Byron, Bride Abydos, II. xviii. Proscribed at home, And taunted to a wish to roam.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, III. xlix. 253. But the Blackfeet were not to be taunted out of their safe shelter.
1888. Pall Mall G., 31 July, 11/2. Viscount Wolmer probably repented of having helped to taunt it out of Mr. Morley.
Hence Taunted ppl. a.
1818. Scott, Battle Sempach, xii. ‘Shalt see then how the game will fare,’ The taunted knight replied.
1882. Sat. Rev., 6 May, 567/1. When the taunted victim … has drunk deep enough of the bitterness of death.
