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sardonicmore about sardonic

sardonic

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sardonic  \Sar*don"ic\,  a. 
  Of  pertaining  to  or  resembling,  a  kind  of  linen  made  at 
  Colchis. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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, 
  malignant,  or  bitterly  sarcastic;  --  applied  only  to  a  laugh, 
  smile,  or  some  facial  semblance  of  gayety. 
 
  Where  strained,  sardonic  smiles  are  glozing  still  And 
  grief  is  forced  to  laugh  against  her  will  --Sir  H. 
  Wotton. 
 
  The  scornful,  ferocious,  sardonic  grin  of  a  bloody 
  ruffian.  --Burke. 
 
  {Sardonic  grin}  or  {laugh},  an  old  medical  term  for  a 
  spasmodic  affection  of  the  muscles  of  the  face,  giving  it 
  an  appearance  of  laughter. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sardonic 
  adj  :  disdainfully  or  ironically  humorous;  scornful  and  mocking; 
  "his  rebellion  is  the  bitter,  sardonic  laughter  of  all 
  great  satirists"-  Frank  Schoenberner  "a  wry  pleasure 
  to  be...reminded  of  all  that  one  is  missing"-  Irwin 
  Edman  [syn:  {wry}]




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