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)

, an·ticked, an·tick·ing.

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 Words From

• anti·cal·ly 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

Moreover, the increase in favor of conviction might suggest that at least some Republicans, having watched the last month of the former president’s antics as well as the fights over Reps.

From Washington Post

Some Republicans also argued that Greene’s antics should be dealt with by the Ethics Committee.

From Washington Post

These walkie talkies double as flashlights for nighttime antics or emergency situations.

From Popular-Science

The show is unexpectedly, wonderfully weird and seemingly designed to appeal to the very people who have written off superhero antics as low-brow entertainment.

From Time

It doesn’t always know what to do with some of its supporting characters, who are too often just literal messengers for Dash and Lily’s antics.

From Vox

Berlusconi repeated the antic in the afternoon in the lower house of Parliament, this time to jeers from fellow politicians.

From The Daily Beast

It was antic, manic, magical, and mischievous—and thoroughly British.

From The Daily Beast

It has been left to Michael Moore, in his usual antic, flawed way, to enact a theatrical liberal insurgency.

From The Daily Beast

The novel has the antic pace and madcap humor of a Hollywood-ready screenplay— Meet the Parents meets Garden State or something.

From The Daily Beast

At British festivals our predecessors used to antic in the guise of a bull, and the bull-headed actor was entitled “The Broad”.

From Project Gutenberg

If a discovery in science is announced, he will execute you an antic upon it before it gets fairly cold.

From Project Gutenberg

I gritted my teeth at him, danced up and down, screaming an incoherent mockery and making antic faces.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor need one necessarily play an absurd antic to be natural.

From Project Gutenberg

Her laugh, at some clumsy antic of Leonidas or some word of mine, rang again and again through the solitude of our hiding place.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• joke
• shenanigan
• trick