\Sar*don"ic\, a. [F. sardonique, L. sardonius, Gr. ?,
?, perhaps fr. ? to grin like a dog, or from a certain plant
of Sardinia, Gr. ?, which was said to screw up the face of
the eater.]
Forced; unnatural; insincere; hence, derisive, mocking,
malignant, or bitterly sarcastic; -- applied only to a laugh,
smile, or some facial semblance of gayety.

      Where strained, sardonic smiles are glozing still, And
      grief is forced to laugh against her will. --Sir H.
                                               Wotton.

      The scornful, ferocious, sardonic grin of a bloody
      ruffian.                                 --Burke.

{Sardonic grin} or {laugh}, an old medical term for a
   spasmodic affection of the muscles of the face, giving it
   an appearance of laughter.

\Sar*don"ic\, a.
Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a kind of linen made at
Colchis.