irony: [16] Irony has no etymological connection with iron. It comes via Latin īrōnia from Greek eirōneíā, which signified ‘deliberately pretending ignorance, particularly as a rhetorical device to get the better of one’s opponent in argument’. This was a derivative of eírōn ‘dissembler’, which in turn came from the verb eírein ‘say’. This original sense of ‘dissimulation’ survives in the expression Socratic irony, a reference to Socrates’ use of such feigned ignorance as a pedagogical method, but it has been overtaken as the main sense of the word by ‘saying the opposite of what one means’.
irony (n.)
c. 1500, from Latin ironia, from Greek eironeia "dissimulation, assumed ignorance," from eiron "dissembler," perhaps related to eirein "to speak" (see verb). Used in Greek of affected ignorance, especially that of Socrates. For nuances of usage, see humor. Figurative use for "condition opposite to what might be expected; contradictory circumstances" is from 1640s.
irony (adj.)
"of or resembling iron," late 14c., from iron (n.) + -y (2).
双语例句
1. There is a delicious irony in all this.
这一切中包含了一种绝妙的讽刺。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The phrase is loaded with irony.
此语满含讽刺意味。
来自柯林斯例句
3. She said to him with slight irony.
她略带嘲讽地对他说.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. Sinclair examined the closed, clever face for any hint of irony, but found none.
辛克莱审视着那张不动声色的精明的脸庞，试图寻找任何冷嘲的迹象，但是却什么都没发现。
来自柯林斯例句
5. I glanced at her and saw no hint of irony on her face.
