antic

American  

[an-tik] / ˈæn tɪk /

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.

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adjective

1. ludicrous; funny.

2. fantastic; odd; grotesque.

   an antic disposition.

verb (used without object)

anticked, anticking

1. Obsolete. to perform antics; caper.

antic British  

/ ˈæntɪk /

noun

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

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adjective

1. archaic fantastic; grotesque

Other Word Forms

• antically adverb

Etymology

Origin of antic

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

Example Sentences

Colombo was where Brook stood in front of his team-mates in late January and apologised for his late-night antics in Wellington and the subsequent fallout – an attempt to draw a line under the Ashes defeat.

From BBC

Netflix hit back furiously at the development, saying in its own statement Tuesday that the negotiating window was designed to end what it called Paramount Skydance's "antics."

From Barron's

Netflix said in a news release that it is confident that its own offer “provides superior value and certainty” but wants to put an end to the “ongoing distraction…caused by PSKY’s antics.”

From Barron's

“While we are confident that our transaction provides superior value and certainty, we recognize the ongoing distraction for WBD stockholders and the broader entertainment industry caused by PSKY’s antics,” Netflix said.

From MarketWatch

“While we are confident that our transaction provides superior value and certainty, we recognize the ongoing distraction for WBD stockholders and the broader entertainment industry caused by PSKY’s antics,” Netflix said.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• joke
• shenanigan
• trick