SARCASM  , an ironical or sneering remark or taunt, a biting or satirical expression . The word comes through the Latin from the

Greek aapt av, literally to tear flesh (aapE) like a dog; hence, figuratively, to bite the lips in rage, to speak bitterly (cf . Stobaeus, Eclog. ii . 222) . The etymology of this may be paralleled by the English " sneer," from Dan. snarre, to grin like a dog, cognate with " snarl," to make a rattling r sound in the throat, Ger. schnarren, and possibly also by " sardonic." This latter word appears in Greek in the form oap&avios, always in the sense of bitter or scornful laughter, in such phrases as aapMviov yeXav, 'yaws actpMvtos and the like . It is probably connected with aatpew, to draw back, i.e. the lips, like a dog, but was usually explained (by the early scholiasts and commentators) as referring to a Sardinian plant (Ranunculus Sardous), whose bitter taste screwed up the mouth . Thus, later Greek writers wrote Eap&iv1ov, and it was adopted into Latin; cf . Servius on Virg . Ed. vii .