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.
双语例句
1. Occasionally he made a humorously sardonic remark.
他时不时说一句幽默嘲讽的话。
来自柯林斯例句
2. She gave him a sardonic smile.
她朝他讥讽地笑了一笑.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. " I'm not being silly,'she replied with a sardonic laugh.
她冷笑道: “ 我才不胡说呢.
来自汉英文学 - 围城
4. The thought brought a sardonic smile to Wu Sun - fu's lips.
吴荪 甫 狞笑了.
来自子夜部分
5. " You needn't be afraid, " he said with a sardonic smile.