sic

Formssics, siccing, sicced

1. 1
   error in originaladverb

   Put after quoted words to show they were copied exactly, often to point out a mistake or a silly claim.

   Like a small note saying, 'I copied this exactly: the mistake was already here.'

   The article quoted her note as 'We recieved [sic] your gift,' keeping her spelling mistake.

   The newspaper printed the sign's words as 'Fresh egg's [sic].'

   UsagePut [sic] right after the mistake.

   Note
2. 2
   set dogs onverbtransitive

   To tell a dog, or send someone, to attack or go after someone. Also, of a dog, to attack.

   Like pointing and shouting 'Go get him!' to a dog.

   Sic the dog on him if he won't leave the yard.

   The farmer sicced his collie on the stray cattle.

   UsageSay sic the dog on him.

   Similarset, unleash

   Note
3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To add a bracketed [sic] after a quoted mistake to show it came from the source.

   Like circling a mistake and writing 'this was already here.'

   Should we fix the typo in her letter, or just sic it?

   She sicced the misspelled word before sending the article to print.

   Similarflag, mark

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A mark in square brackets in a quote, showing a mistake or something odd was copied exactly from the original.

   The teacher put a sic after the misspelled word in the quote.

   The news story copied the coach's text message, with two sics for his spelling mistakes.

   Note

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