sic

or sick

[ sik ]

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).

Origin of sic

First recorded in 1835–45; variant of seek

Other definitions for sic (2 of 5)

sic²

[ sik ]

adjectiveChiefly Scot.

such.

Origin of sic

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English (north and Scots); see such

Other definitions for sic (3 of 5)

sic³

[ seek; English sik ]

adverbLatin.

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).

Origin of sic

First recorded in 1885–90; from Latin sīc

Words that may be confused with sic

sic , sick

Other definitions for SIC (4 of 5)

SIC

U.S. Government.

Standard Industrial Classification: a system used by the federal government to classify business activities for analytical and reporting purposes.

Other definitions for Sic. (5 of 5)

Sic.

abbreviation

Sicilian.
Sicily.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sic in a sentence

But the farmer whose property they had invaded thought he would help by "sicking" the dog on them.
The Red Cow and Her Friends | Peter McArthur
They was both sicking their intellects onto the job of figgering out how it was Lucy didn't know.
Danny's Own Story | Don Marquis
We can let them see how much better they can make things by sicking them on to each other and having them discipline each other.
The Ghost in the White House | Gerald Stanley Lee
By "sicking" dog-loyal people against other nations crafty leaders can win elections, raise tariffs, and provoke wars.
The Affable Stranger | Peter McArthur
Upon the Sicking river, nearly a hundred miles north from Boonesborough, there were valuable springs richly impregnated with salt.
Daniel Boone | John S. C. Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for sic (1 of 3)

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

Origin of sic

Latin

British Dictionary definitions for sic (2 of 3)

sic²

/ (sɪk) /

verbsics, sicking or sicked (tr)

to turn on or attack: used only in commands, as to a dog
to urge (a dog) to attack

Origin of sic

C19: dialect variant of seek

British Dictionary definitions for sic (3 of 3)

sic³

/ (sɪk) /

determiner, adverb

a Scot word for such

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

Cultural definitions for sic

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].’”

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