Sardonic — Sar*don ic, a. [F. sardonique, L. sardonius, Gr. ?, ?, perhaps fr. ? to grin like a dog, or from a certain plant of Sardinia, Gr. ?, which was said to screw up the face of the eater.] Forced; unnatural; insincere; hence, derisive, mocking,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
sardonic — 1630s, from Fr. sardonique (16c.), from L. sardonius (but as if from L. *sardonicus) in Sardonius risus, loan translation of Gk. sardonios (gelos) of bitter or scornful (laughter), altered from Homeric sardanios (of uncertain origin) by influence … Etymology dictionary
sardonic — [sär dän′ik] adj. [Fr sardonique < L sardonius < Gr sardonios, altered after Sardō, SARDINIA] disdainfully or bitterly sneering, ironic, or sarcastic [a sardonic smile] SYN. SARCASTIC sardonically adv. sardonicism [sär dän′ə siz΄əm] n … English World dictionary
Sardonic — Sar*don ic, a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a kind of linen made at Colchis. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
sardonic — index bitter (reproachful), cynical, disdainful, ironic Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
sardonic — ironic, satiric, *sarcastic Analogous words: *bitter, acrid: deriding or derisive, mocking, taunting, ridiculing (see corresponding verbs at RIDICULE): *sinister, malign … New Dictionary of Synonyms
sardonic — [adj] sarcastic acerbic, arrogant, biting, bitter, carping, caustic, cynical, derisive, disrespectful, evil, irascible, mean, mocking, mordant, nasty, offensive, salty*, satirical, scorching, scornful, sharp, smart alecky*, sneering, taunting,… … New thesaurus
sardonic — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ grimly mocking or cynical. DERIVATIVES sardonically adverb sardonicism noun. ORIGIN French sardonique, from Greek sardonios of Sardinia , alteration of sardanios, used by Homer to describe bitter or scornful laughter … English terms dictionary
Sardonic — , SAR DONIC LAUGHTER A poisonous plant called Herba Sardonia gave the English language the word sardonic and gave the Italian island of Sardinia its name. The island in turn gave English the word sardine, the name for a small fish of the… … Dictionary of eponyms
sardonic — [[t]sɑː(r)dɒ̱nɪk[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe someone as sardonic, you mean their attitude to people or things is humorous but rather critical. He was a big, sardonic man, who intimidated even the most self confident students. ...a… … English dictionary
