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σαρδάνιος [δα^], α, ον, an Adj. used of
A.bitter or scornful smiles or laughter, “μείδησε δὲ θυμῷ σαρδάνιον μάλα τοῖονOd.20.302; so “ἀνεκάγχασε μάλα σαρδάνιονPl.R.337a; “ὑπομειδιάσας σαρδάνιονPlb. 18.7.6; “τί μάταια γελᾷς . . ; τάχα που σαρδάνιον γελάσειςAP5.178 (Mel.); “πεφύλαξο σίνεσθαι, μὴ καὶ ς. γελάσῃςAPl.4.86; ridereγέλωτα σαρδάνιονCic.Fam.7.25.1. (Perh. connected with σεσηρώς, grinning, sneering, Sch.Pl. l.c.; cf. σαρδάζων: μετὰ πικρίας γελῶν, Phot., Suid. —The common expl. given of this laugh was that it resembled the effect produced by a Sardinian plant (Ranunculus Sardoüs, Sardinian crowfoot, called σαρδάνη by Tz. ad Hes. Op.59, σαρδόνιον by Ps.-Dsc.2.175, D.Chr.32.99) which when eaten screwed up the face of the eater, Paus.10.17.13, Sch.Pl. l.c., Phot., Serv.ad Verg.Ecl.7.41; whence later authors wrote σαρδόνιον or σαρδώνιον (from Σαρδώ) for σαρδάνιον, Ps.-Dsc. l.c., D.Chr. l.c., Luc.Asin.24, etc., σαρδώνιος γέλως and “-ωνία πόαDsc.Alex.14, and σαρδόνιον appears as a v.l. in Hom. and Pl.; hence our form sardonic; this and other explanations are given in Timae.29, Zen.5.85, Tz.ad Lyc.796, Sch. Pl. l.c.)
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hide References (7 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (7):
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 7.25.1
    • Hesiod, Works and Days, 59
    • Homer, Odyssey, 20.302
    • Pausanias, Description of Greece, 10.17.13
    • Plato, Republic, 337a
    • Polybius, Histories, 18.7.6
    • Dio Chrysostom, Orationes, 32.99
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