antic

[ an-tik ]

/ ˈæn tɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR antic ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Usually antics.

a playful trick or prank; caper.
a grotesque, fantastic, or ludicrous gesture, act, or posture.

Archaic.

an actor in a grotesque or ridiculous presentation.
a buffoon; clown.

Obsolete.

a grotesque theatrical presentation; ridiculous interlude.
a grotesque or fantastic sculptured figure, as a gargoyle.

adjective

ludicrous; funny.

fantastic; odd; grotesque: an antic disposition.

verb (used without object), an·ticked, an·tick·ing.

Obsolete. to perform antics; caper.

Nearby words

antibody excess, antibody-mediated immunity, antibugging, antibuser, antibusing, antic, antical, anticancer, anticapitalist, anticarious, anticatalase

Origin of antic

1520–30; earlier antike, antique < Italian antico ancient (< Latin antīcus, antīquus; see antique), apparently taken to mean “grotesque,” as used in descriptions of fantastic figures found in Roman ruins

Related forms

an·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Can be confused

antic antique

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antic

Berlusconi repeated the antic in the afternoon in the lower house of Parliament, this time to jeers from fellow politicians.
Silvio Berlusconi: The Joker Is Back|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It was antic, manic, magical, and mischievous—and thoroughly British.
Olympics Opening-Ceremonies Review: Hats Off, Danny Boy|Simon Schama|July 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The novel has the antic pace and madcap humor of a Hollywood-ready screenplay— Meet the Parents meets Garden State or something.
Summer of Our White Male Discontent|Taylor Antrim|August 4, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The meaning of antic, a doublet of antique, has changed considerably, but the process is easy to follow.
The Romance of Words (4th ed.)|Ernest Weekley

The savages also entertained them with dancing and singing and antic tricks and grimaces.
Captain John Smith|Charles Dudley Warner
Base, antic awakener of her heart's dumb cry of infinite loss!
Kincaid's Battery|George W. Cable
Sports in the solitude like an antic fiend; it feeds on blood, and rivers would not sate its appetite.
Tales from Blackwood|Various
Other orts and ends of rabble made up the procession, which with antic and grimace marched about the village and neighbourhood.
British Goblins|Wirt Sikes

British Dictionary definitions for antic

antic

/ (ˈæntɪk) /

noun

archaic an actor in a ludicrous or grotesque part; clown; buffoon

adjective

archaic fantastic; grotesque

Word Origin for antic

C16: from Italian antico something ancient, or grotesque (from its application to fantastic carvings found in ruins of ancient Rome); see antique

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