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Sardonic grin

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

Usage examples of "sardonic grin".

His great brown hand saluted it, and a brief, sardonic grin crossed his square-jawed face.

He himself felt his sardonic grin was set in ice upon his features.

Edirne had not noticed when Camanto struggled against a sardonic grin of complete agreement.