antic
[ an-tik ]
/ ˈæn tɪk /
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.
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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for antic
antic
/ (ˈæntɪk) /
noun
archaic an actor in a ludicrous or grotesque part; clown; buffoon
adjective
archaic fantastic; grotesque
See also antics
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
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