Sic
Posted by ESC on January 20, 2000
In Reply to: 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."
- Sic Bob 0