σαρδάνιος

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Ancient Greek

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Uncertain, but since antiquity it is often cited as deriving from the Sardinian plant (Ranunculus sardous), known as either σαρδάνη (sardánē) or σαρδόνιον (sardónion). When eaten, it would cause the eater's face to contort in a look resembling scorn (generally followed by death).

It has also been compared with σέσηρα (sésēra, to show teeth) and σαίρω (saírō, to grin).

Alternatively, Kretschmer tried to connect this word to the name of the Šardana people living near Egypt, although the details remain unclear.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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σαρδάνῐος (sardániosm (feminine σαρδᾰνίᾱ, neuter σαρδάνῐον); first/second declension

  1. (of laughter or smiles) scornful, bitter, grim

Inflection

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Descendants

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  • Greek: σαρδόνιος (sardónios)

Further reading

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