sarcasm

sarcasm
\ \ [16] A sarcastic remark is etymologically one which involves the ‘rending of flesh’. Greek sárx meant ‘flesh’ (it has given English sarcoma [17] and sarcophagus), and it formed the basis of a verb sarkázeintear the flesh’, hence ‘bite one’s lip, gnash one’s teeth’, and by further extension ‘make a cutting remark’. This gave rise to the late Greek derivative sarkasmós, which passed into English via late Latin sarcasmos and French sarcasme.
\ \ Cf.SARCOMA, SARCOPHAGUS

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Sarcasm — is stating the opposite of an intended meaning especially in order to sneeringly, slyly, jest or mock a person, situation or thing. It is strongly associated with irony, with some definitions classifying it as a type of verbal irony intended to… …   Wikipedia

  • sarcasm — SARCÁSM, sarcasme, s.n. 1. Ironie aspră, usturătoare; batjocură necruţătoare. 2. Vorbă, frază, expresie sarcastică. – Din fr. sarcasme, lat. sarcasmus. Trimis de andreeadima, 16.03.2008. Sursa: DEX 98  SARCÁSM s. (livr.) acrimonie, (fig.)… …   Dicționar Român

  • Sarcasm — Sar casm, n. [F. sarcasme, L. sarcasmus, Gr. sarkasmo s, from sarka zein to tear flesh like dogs, to bite the lips in rage, to speak bitterly, to sneer, fr. sa rx, sa rkos, flesh.] A keen, reproachful expression; a satirical remark uttered with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sarcasm — index diatribe, irony, ridicule Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • sarcasm — 1570s, from L.L. sarcasmos, from Gk. sarkasmos a sneer, jest, taunt, mockery, from sarkazein to speak bitterly, sneer, lit. to strip off the flesh, from sarx (gen. sarkos) flesh, prop. piece of meat, from PIE root *twerk to cut (Cf. Avestan… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sarcasm — satire, irony, *wit, humor, repartee Analogous words: incisiveness, trenchancy, bitingness, cuttingness (see corresponding adjectives at INCISIVE): mockery, taunting, derision (see corresponding verbs at RIDICULE) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sarcasm — [n] mocking remark acrimony, aspersion, banter, bitterness, burlesque, causticness, censure, comeback, contempt, corrosiveness, criticism, cut*, cynicism, derision, dig*, disparagement, flouting, invective, irony, lampooning, mockery, mordancy,… …   New thesaurus

  • sarcasm — ► NOUN ▪ the use of irony to mock or convey contempt. ORIGIN Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein tear flesh , later gnash the teeth, speak bitterly …   English terms dictionary

  • sarcasm — [sär′kaz΄əm] n. [LL sarcasmos < Gr sarkasmos < sarkazein, to tear flesh like dogs, speak bitterly < sarx (gen. sarkos), flesh < IE base * twerk , to cut > Avestan thwarəs , to cut, whittle] 1. a taunting, sneering, cutting, or… …   English World dictionary

  • sarcasm — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ biting, bitter, heavy ▪ obvious ▪ dry (esp. AmE) ▪ I love him for his cutting wit and dry sarcasm. ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • sarcasm — n. 1) biting, devastating, keen, piercing, scathing, withering; mild sarcasm 2) sarcasm about 3) (misc.) dripping with sarcasm (her remarks were dripping with sarcasm) * * * [ sɑːkæz(ə)m] devastating keen mild sarcasm piercing scathing withering… …   Combinatory dictionary

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