Word of the Day, or, Why I Love Etymology
Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 9:13AM
Emily Breunig in #english, #etymology, #language, Curiosities
From
dictionary.com
, emphasis mine:
sar·don·ic
adjective
characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking;
cynical
; sneering: a sardonic grin.
Origin: 1630-40...alluding to a Sardinian plant which when eaten was supposed to produce convusive laughter ending in death
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