Re: Sic

Posted by ESC on January 20, 2000

In Reply to: Re: Sic posted by Bob on January 20, 2000

: : : Short question: what is the meaning and origin of "sic"? Is it Latin or does it have any connection to "sick"?

: : : Thanks in advance,
: : : Richard

: : sic (Latin) literally 'seek.' so, thus, as it was, in this way; inserted parenthetically into a text to indicate the occurrence of an anonmaly or misspelling which has not been corrected for the purpose of the quotation. From "Le Mot Juste" (Vintage Books).

: I can't agree with your source. The usual definition is "thus" or "as written."Lifting from an online Latin dictionary:
: sîc (old form sîce, Plaut. Rud. 2.4.12; also seic, C. I. L. 818), adv. [for si - ce; si, locat. form of pron. stem sa- = Gr. ho, ha, or hê, and demonstr -ce; v. Corss. Ausspr. 1, 777], so, thus, in this or that manner, in such a manner, in the same way or manner, in like manner, likewise, to this or that extent or degree, to such a degree, in this or that state or condition, in such a condition (syn. ita); sic refers, I. To a previous fact, description, or assumption.--II. To a subsequent independent sentence, = thus, as follows.--III. As a local demonstrative (deiktikôs), referring to something done or pointed out by the speaker, = thus, as I do it; thus, as you see, etc.

: In other words, it's usually found in quoted material, inserted by an editor with a snotty attitude, who wants to show up an error in the quote, to say "it's not my fault. don't blame me."

I always thought it meant "spelled incorrectly."

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