satire English · revision 1258

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsætaɪə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsætaɪɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|satire]] and directly [[der|la|satira|t=satire, poetic medley]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) an altered form of earlier ''satura'',^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably from ''lanx satura'' “a dish of mixed ingredients”, literally “a full dish”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from the feminine of ''satur'' “well-fed, sated”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The spelling with ''-i-'' or ''-y-'' arose in Latin from the mistaken belief that the genre was connected with the Greek [[satyr]] drama.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A poem, later also a prose work, in which prevailing vices or follies are held up to ridicule (1509 in the OED and Barnhart, 1501 in Merriam-Webster).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Latin the word acquired its literary sense from the poet Ennius's collection of poems in mixed metres on varied subjects, and in classical Latin it was used especially of a poem attacking one vice after another.^(Etymonline) In English it came to name the whole kind of literature (1589)^(OED 1989) and, by the late 17th century, the use of sarcasm, irony and ridicule in any speech or writing.^(OED 1989) The sense “a thing or circumstance that makes someone look ridiculous” is recorded from 1693.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) A verb ''satire'' “to satirize” appeared in 1905, but the older verb is [[satirize]].^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1501 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1509 – a poem ridiculing vices and follies.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1589 – satirical writing as a kind of literature.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – the verb ''satirize''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1675 – the use of ridicule and sarcasm in exposing vice or folly.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1693 – something that makes a person or thing look ridiculous.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A literary work in which human vices and follies are attacked through [[irony]], [[derision]] or wit.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The branch of literature made up of such works.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+ # Irony, [[sarcasm]] or caustic wit used to expose and discredit folly or vice.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[satirize]]

+ * [[satiric]]

+ * [[satirical]]

+ * [[satirist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[satiate]]

+ * [[saturate]]

+ * [[satisfy]]

+ * [[lampoon]]

+ * [[parody]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House distinguishes ''satire'', the general term, which often aims at the weakness rather than the person and usually implies a moral, corrective purpose, from ''[[lampoon]]'', a satire, often political or personal, marked by the malice of its attack.^(RHWU) Wiktionary notes that ''satire'' is often confused with ''[[parody]]'', which need not aim at any social change.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}