snide

Pronunciation

• IPA: /snaɪd/^[1]

Etymology

Its origin is unknown.^[2][3][4][5] Etymonline reports the Century Dictionary's suggestion that it is a dialect variant of snithe “sharp, cutting”, from Middle English snithen “to cut”, Old English snīþan,^[4] which is related to German schneiden.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In thieves' slang, counterfeit or sham, especially of coins (1859).^[3][4][5][6]

Semantic evolution

As a noun the word meant counterfeit coin or jewellery, and a contemptible person or cheat (1874).^[6][4] Of people, the adjective meant cunning and given to sharp practice (1883).^[6][4] The sense “bad, contemptible” is found by 1903,^[3] and the current sense, slyly disparaging or sneering, by 1928–33,^[4][3][6] perhaps by way of the noun sense “hypocrisy, malicious gossip” (1902).^[4][6]

Timeline

• 1859 – counterfeit, sham.^[3][4][5][6]
• 1874 – noun, a base person or cheat.^[6][4]
• 1883 – of a person, cunning.^[6]
• 1902 – noun, malicious gossip.^[6][4]
• 1933 – sneering, slyly derogatory.^[3][6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Slyly disparaging or sarcastic in a malicious, superior way.
2. Low or unworthy, as a trick.
3. (dated) False or counterfeit; also dishonest.

Word family

• snidely
• snideness

Related words

• sneer
• snarky

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press