Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Word Origin of the Day--sardonic

I am fascinated by words.  Always have been.  So I decided to add this little featurette of Word Origin of the Day.  We'll include the meaning as used today, and then how these gems came to be.  

Or some other amusing tidbit.  

Today's Word:  sardonic

sar.don.ic:  adj.  characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynicalsneering: a sardonic grin.



Origin: 

1630–40;  alteration of earlier sardonian  
    alluding to a Sardinian plant which when eaten was supposed to 
produce convulsive laughter ending in death


Ending in death, folks.  Ending in death.  Laughter CAN kill you.  

She says sardonically.  

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