Meaning

adjective disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking; - Frank Schoenberner; - Irwin Edman

originFrom French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, from Ancient Greek σαρδόνιος (sardónios), alternative form of σαρδάνιος (sardánios, “bitter or scornful laughter”), which is often cited as deriving from the Sardinian plant (Ranunculus sardous or possibly Oenanthe crocata), known as either σαρδάνη (sardánē) or σαρδόνιον (sardónion). When eaten, it would cause the eater's face to contort in a look…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0