ironic English · revision 39563

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1614, Bishop W. Cowper, Dikaiologie|origins=grc εἴρων}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /aɪˈɹɒn.ɪk/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /aɪˈɹɑ.nɪk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|īrōnicus|t=ironical, mocking]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and partly [[m|fr|ironique]] according to the Shorter Oxford and the Oxford Dictionary of English.^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010) The Latin word comes from [[grc|εἰρωνικός|tr=eirōnikós|t=dissembling, feigning ignorance]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|grc|εἰρωνεία|tr=eirōneía|t=dissimulation]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[irony]], and that from [[m|grc|εἴρων|tr=eírōn|t=dissembler]].^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of language or style, containing or marked by irony: 1614, in Bishop William Cowper's ''Dikaiologie''.^(OED 2026) Etymonline dates the adjective to the 1620s,^(Etymonline) and the Shorter Oxford to the mid 17th century;^(SOED 2002) Merriam-Webster's first date, 1576, is close to that of the older form ''ironical'', which Etymonline dates to the 1570s.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In 1631 Ben Jonson used ''ironic'' for feigned or dissembling, and the sense later narrowed to Socratic irony, a pretence of ignorance;^(OED 2026) Merriam-Webster marks "pretended" as obsolete.^(MWU 2024) From 1674 the word could describe a person given to irony.^(OED 2026) The sense now most common, a situation or outcome strangely or cruelly at odds with what was expected, is recorded from 1889.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1576 – first known use, according to Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1614 – containing or expressing irony;^(OED 2026) the 1620s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1631 – feigned, dissembling.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1674 – of a person, given to irony.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1889 – of a situation, contrary to what was expected.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Expressing or using [[irony]]: ''He gave an ironic bow.''^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # Of a situation or outcome, strangely or amusingly opposite to what was expected: ''It was ironic that the fire station burned down.''^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of a person, given to irony.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # (obsolete) Pretended, [[feign]]ed.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ironically]]

+ * [[ironicalness]]

+ * [[nonironic]]

+ * [[ironical]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dramatic irony]]

+ * [[Socratic irony]]

+ * [[irony]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}