sardonic [M17th] The Greek epic poet Homer, of the 8th century bc, used the word sardanios to describe bitter, scornful laughter. Later Greeks and Romans did not really understand the provenance of this word and decided it must be sardonios ‘Sardinian’ and refer to a ‘Sardinian plant’ which produced facial convulsions resembling horrible laughter, usually followed by death. English adopted sardonic in the mid 17th century to refer to grimly mocking or cynical smiles, grins, and looks as well as to laughter.