I"ron*y (?), n. [L. ironia, Gr.
? dissimulation, fr. ? a dissembler in speech, fr. ? to speak;
perh. akin to E. word: cf. F. ironie.]
1. Dissimulation; ignorance feigned for the
purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist.
2. A sort of humor, ridicule, or light
sarcasm, which adopts a mode of speech the meaning of which is
contrary to the literal sense of the words.
I"ron*y (?), a. [From Iron.]
1. Made or consisting of iron; partaking of
iron; iron; as, irony chains; irony particles.
[R.] Woodward.
2. Resembling iron in taste, hardness, or
other physical property.