English
sarcasm
Sarcasm comes from Ancient Greek σαρκασμός ‘a sneer’, from σαρκάζω ‘to gnash the teeth (in anger)’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- ‘to cut’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*twerḱ-‘to cut’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*turḱ-sreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσάρξsárx‘flesh’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσαρκάζωsarkázō‘to gnash the teeth (in anger)’literally ‘to strip off the flesh’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσαρκασμόςsarkasmós‘a sneer’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEsarcasmus
- Englishearliest quotation 1897sarcasm
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*twerḱ-‘to cut’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*turḱ-sreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσάρξsárx‘flesh’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσαρκάζωsarkázō‘to gnash the teeth (in anger)’literally ‘to strip off the flesh’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσαρκασμόςsarkasmós‘a sneer’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEsarcasmus
- Englishearliest quotation 1897sarcasm
Earliest quotation: 1897, Winston Churchill: “Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- ‘to cut’
trunk, trench, truncation, truncheon, truncate, 17 more
through Ancient Greek σάρξ ‘flesh’
Today it means
noun Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using verbal irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and sneering.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- / sarcasm