[sar.casm] n [F or LL; F sarcasme, fr. LL sarcasmos, fr. Gk sarkasmos, fr. sarkazein to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, fr. sark-, sarx flesh; prob. akin to Av thwares- to cut] (1550) 1: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain "tired of continual ~s"
2. a: a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usu. directed against an individual b: the use or language of sarcasm "this is no time to indulge in ~" syn see wit