sardonic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   grimly mocking, scornful, or cynically humorous

   He greeted the apology with a sardonic smile and a slow clap.

Simplified etymology

Sardonic was adopted in English in the mid-17th century for grimly mocking or cynical laughter, smiles, and looks. It goes back to Greek sardanios, used by Homer for bitter, scornful laughter; its deeper origin was already obscure in antiquity. Later Greeks and Romans associated it with Greek sardonios, “Sardinian,” and a supposed Sardinian plant said to cause fatal facial convulsions resembling laughter, but this appears to be a later explanation.

From French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, altered after Sardonia ('Sardinia'); from Ancient Greek sardónios, said to refer to a Sardinian plant that produced facial convulsions resembling a bitter grin.

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