Sardonia
/sɑːrˈdoʊniə/noun
An archaic name for a poisonous Sardinian buttercup, traditionally identified with Ranunculus sardous.
Did you know?Ancient writers associated the Sardinian plant with risus sardonicus, a toxic facial spasm resembling laughter, which later inspired the word “sardonic.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
sardṓnios
“Sardinian; associated with a poisonous plant from Sardinia”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
sardonius
“Of Sardinia; relating to the plant believed to produce a grimacing smile”
Classical Latin
Latin
herba sardonia
“Sardinian herb, a poisonous plant”
Middle English period
Medieval Latin
sardonia
“A name for the poisonous Sardinian plant”
17th Century
English
sardonia
“An archaic botanical name for a poisonous buttercup”
Modern English
English
Sardonia
“A historical or taxonomic name associated with Ranunculus sardous”