DEFINITIONS

sic

1

or sick

[ sik ]
/ sɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR sic ON THESAURUS.COM

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).

Content related to sic

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 …
READ MORE
Pour, Pore, And Other Trending Words On Dictionary.comWe pored over the data this week, and we got a good look at what words you learned from the news. Whether it was a presidential grammar mistake or an HBO show host's foray into teen speak, here's what made folks curious.
READ MORE

Words related to sic

precisely, plainly, actually, completely, simply, directly, truly, really, then, very, well, thus, quite, too, indeed, apparently, therefore, prompt, propel, motivate

Words nearby sic

sibuyan sea, sibyl, sibylla, sibylline, sibylline books, sic, sic passim, sic semper tyrannis, sic transit gloria mundi, sic., sica

Origin of sic

1
First recorded in 1835–45; variant of seek

Definition for sic (2 of 9)

sic2
[ sik ]
/ sɪk /

adjective Chiefly Scot.

such.

Origin of sic

2
1325–75; Middle English (north and Scots); see such

Definition for sic (3 of 9)

sic3
[ 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).

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sic

sic sick

Definition 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)

Sic.

Sicilian.
Sicily.

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)

sic1
/ (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)

sic2
/ (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)

sic3
/ (sɪk) /

determiner, adverb

a Scot word for such

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.