sic
1or sick
[ sik ]
/ sɪk /
verb (used with object), sicced or sicked [sikt] /sɪkt/, sic·cing or sick·ing.
to attack (used especially in commanding a dog): Sic 'em!
to incite to attack (usually followed by on).
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Quoting Accurately With SicSic indicates that the word or phrase it follows has been written or spelled in the same way it originally was, even though it appears to be a mistake. Writers often use sic (which comes into English from the Latin word for so or thus) when they’re quoting material from another source. The use of sic lets the writer off the hook for any spelling …
Quoting Accurately With SicSic indicates that the word or phrase it follows has been written or spelled in the same way it originally was, even though it appears to be a mistake. Writers often use sic (which comes into English from the Latin word for so or thus) when they’re quoting material from another source. The use of sic lets the writer off the hook for any spelling …
Nearby words
Origin of sic
1First recorded in 1835–45; variant of seek
Definition for sic (2 of 9)
Origin of sic
2Definition for sic (3 of 9)
sic
3[ seek; English sik ]
/ sik; English sɪk /
adverb Latin.
so; thus: usually written parenthetically to denote that a word, phrase, passage, etc., that may appear strange or incorrect has been written intentionally or has been quoted verbatim: He signed his name as e. e. cummings (sic).
Can be confused
sic sickDefinition for sic (4 of 9)
SIC
U.S. Government.
Standard Industrial Classification: a system used by the federal government to classify business activities for analytical and reporting purposes.
Definition for sic (5 of 9)
Definition for sic (6 of 9)
rebus sic stantibus
[ ree-buh s sik stan-tuh-buh s ]
/ ˈri bəs sɪk ˈstæn tə bəs /
adverb International Law.
(of the duration of the binding force treaty) for as long as the relevant facts and circumstances remain basically the same.
Origin of rebus sic stantibus
First recorded in 1840–50, rebus sic stantibus is from the Latin word rēbus sīc stantibus with things remaining thus
Definition for sic (7 of 9)
sic passim
[ seek pahs-sim; English sik pas-im ]
/ sik ˈpɑs sɪm; English sɪk ˈpæs ɪm /
adverb Latin.
so throughout: used especially as a footnote to indicate that a word, phrase, or idea recurs throughout the book being cited.
Definition for sic (8 of 9)
sic semper tyrannis
[ seek sem-per ty-rahn-nis; English sik sem-per ti-ran-is ]
/ sik ˈsɛm pɛr tüˈrɑn nɪs; English sɪk ˈsɛm pər tɪˈræn ɪs /
Latin.
thus always to tyrants: motto of Virginia.
Definition for sic (9 of 9)
sic transit gloria mundi
[ seek trahn-sit gloh-ri-ah moo n-dee; English sik tran-sit glawr-ee-uh muhn-dahy, -dee, glohr-, -zit ]
/ sik ˈtrɑn sɪt ˈgloʊ rɪˌɑ ˈmʊn di; English sɪk ˈtræn sɪt ˈglɔr i ə ˈmʌn daɪ, -di, ˈgloʊr-, -zɪt /
Latin.
thus passes away the glory of this world.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for sic
British Dictionary definitions for sic (1 of 5)
sic
1/ (sɪk) /
adverb
so or thus: inserted in brackets in a written or printed text to indicate that an odd or questionable reading is what was actually written or printed
Word Origin for sic
Latin
British Dictionary definitions for sic (2 of 5)
sic
2/ (sɪk) /
verb sics, sicking or sicked (tr)
to turn on or attack: used only in commands, as to a dog
to urge (a dog) to attack
Word Origin for sic
C19: dialect variant of seek
British Dictionary definitions for sic (3 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for sic (4 of 5)
sic passim
/ Latin (ˈsɪk ˈpæsɪm) /
a phrase used in printed works to indicate that a word, spelling, etc, occurs in the same form throughout
Word Origin for sic passim
literally: thus everywhere
British Dictionary definitions for sic (5 of 5)
sic transit gloria mundi
/ Latin (ˈsɪk ˈtrænsɪt ˈɡlɔːrɪˌɑː ˈmʊndiː) /
thus passes the glory of the world
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Culture definitions for sic (1 of 2)
sic
A Latin word for “thus,” used to indicate that an apparent error is part of quoted material and not an editorial mistake: “The learned geographer asserts that ‘the capital of the United States is Washingtown [sic].’”
Culture definitions for sic (2 of 2)
Sic transit gloria mundi
[ (sik tran-sit glawr-ee-uh moon-dee) ]
Latin for “Thus passes away the glory of the world”; worldly things do not last.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with sic
sic transit gloria mundi
Nothing on earth is permanent, as in His first three novels were bestsellers and now he can't even find an agent—sic transit gloria mundi. This expression, Latin for “Thus passes the glory of the world,” has been used in English since about 1600, and is familiar enough so that it is sometimes abbreviated to sic transit.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.