sardonic
pronunciation
How to pronounce sardonic in British English:
UK [sɑːˈdɒnɪk]
How to pronounce sardonic in American English:
US [sɑːrˈdɑːnɪk]
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- Adjective:
- disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking
Word Origin
- sardonic
- sardonic: [17] The Greek word for ‘scornful, mocking’ was sardánios, but this came to be changed to sardónios, which literally meant ‘Sardinian’, through association with the Latin term herba Sardonia ‘Sardinian plant’, the name of a sort of plant which when eaten caused facial contortions that resembled a scornful grin. English acquired the word via Latin sardonius and French sardonique. The sardine [15] probably gets its name from Sardinia too.=> sardine
- sardonic (adj.)
- "apparently but not really proceeding from gaiety," 1630s, from French sardonique (16c.), from Latin sardonius (but as if from Latin *sardonicus) in Sardonius risus, loan-translation of Greek sardonios (gelos) "of bitter or scornful (laughter)," altered from Homeric sardanios (of uncertain origin) by influence of Sardonios "Sardinian," because the Greeks believed that eating a certain plant they called sardonion (literally "plant from Sardinia," see Sardinia) caused facial convulsions resembling those of sardonic laughter, usually followed by death. For nuances of usage, see humor. Earlier in same sense sardonian (1580s), from Latin sardonius. Related: Sardonically.
Example
- 1. The tone was no longer sardonic , but sober .
- 2. He was full of sardonic humour .
- 3. Most uses of this image have been used in a sarcastic , almost sardonic fashion by anti-nuclear bloggers or to illustrate left-leaning articles on the nuclear power industry .
- 4. His words often had a bitter , sardonic edge to them .
- 5. " But you were otherwise engaged , " guessed stephen , with a sardonic edge .