Select the correct definition of the word derided based on the context in the following line from james joyce’s “araby.”
gazing up into the darkness i saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity

a. rebuked
b. mocked
c. saddened
d. motivated

answer:

b. mocked

explanation:

the correct definition of the word derided based on the context of the given line above from james joyce's "araby" is "mocked". the word deride comes from the latin word "deridere" meaning to scoff at. other words that are synonymous to the word "deride" are to ridicule, to make fun of, and to laugh at.