antic

[an-tik]

noun

1. Usually antics.

   1. a playful trick or prank; caper.

   2. a grotesque, fantastic, or ludicrous gesture, act, or posture.

2. Archaic.

   1. an actor in a grotesque or ridiculous presentation.

   2. a buffoon; clown.

3. Obsolete.

   1. a grotesque theatrical presentation; ridiculous interlude.

   2. a grotesque or fantastic sculptured figure, as a gargoyle.

adjective

1. ludicrous; funny.

2. fantastic; odd; grotesque.

   an antic disposition.

verb (used without object)

anticked, anticking 

1. Obsolete.,  to perform antics; caper.

antic

/ ˈæntɪk /

noun

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

adjective

1. archaic,  fantastic; grotesque

Other Word Forms

• antically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of antic¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of antic¹

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

Example Sentences

The star was also in a constant battle with stage fright—a startling admission for a larger-than-life performer with a reputation for spooky, unnerving antics.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Now the former champion has swapped fight nights and jungle antics for a new adventure.

Read more on BBC

The first is Olympian, polymathic, erudite, antically funny, often beautiful, at times gross, at others incredibly romantic, never afraid to challenge or even confound, and unmistakably worked at.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The prime minister and those around him have long privately rolled their eyes at Burnham's antics.

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“The band has been the soundtrack to my life and has given me so many great times through their music, art, humor and wild stage antics.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• joke 
• shenanigan 
• trick