|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1
stranger
|
OP
stranger
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1 |
can anyone clarify the difference
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027 |
according to the OED, sardonic means "exhibiting bitterness, scorn or mockery" (mostly in the expression "sardonic smile"). It is not related to "saturnine", which means "sluggish, cold and gloomy in temperament". The only common ground of these words is their negative tone.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
I can't totally agree with the previous, as in AHD4:
2a. Melancholy or sullen. b. Having or marked by a tendency to be bitter or sardonic: a saturnine expression on his face.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
stranger
|
|
stranger
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2 |
My take on this is that one would be actively sardondic but passively saturnine.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Yes, but that one need not be one and the same person. I mean, one could be sardonic without ever being saturnine.
And the other way around.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,372
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
381
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
|
|
