Hypertext Webster Gateway: "satire"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Satire \Sat"ire\ (?; in Eng. often ?; 277), n. [L. satira,
satura, fr. satura (sc. lanx) a dish filled with various
kinds of fruits, food composed of various ingredients, a
mixture, a medley, fr. satur full of food, sated, fr. sat,
satis, enough: cf. F. satire. See {Sate}, {Sad}, a., and cf.
{Saturate}.]
1. A composition, generally poetical, holding up vice or
folly to reprobation; a keen or severe exposure of what in
public or private morals deserves rebuke; an invective
poem; as, the Satires of Juvenal.
2. Keeness and severity of remark; caustic exposure to
reprobation; trenchant wit; sarcasm.
Syn: Lampoon; sarcasm; irony; ridicule; pasquinade;
burlesque; wit; humor.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
satire
n : witty language used to convey insults or scorn; "he used
sarcasm to upset his opponent"; "irony is wasted on the
stupid" [syn: {sarcasm}, {irony}, {caustic remark}]
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