attic

¹

[at-ik]

noun

1. the part of a building, especially of a house, directly under a roof; garret.

2. a room or rooms in an attic.

3. a low story or decorative wall above an entablature or the main cornice of a building.

4. Anatomy.,  the upper part of the tympanic cavity of the ear.

Attic

²

[at-ik]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Greece or of Athens.

2. (often lowercase),  displaying simple elegance, incisive intelligence, and delicate wit.

noun

1. the dialect of ancient Attica that became the standard language of Classical Greek literature in the 5th and 4th centuries b.c.

Attic

¹

/ ˈætɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to Attica, its inhabitants, or the dialect of Greek spoken there, esp in classical times

2. (often not capital) classically elegant, simple, or pure

   an Attic style

noun

1. the dialect of Ancient Greek spoken and written in Athens: the chief literary dialect of classical Greek See also Aeolic Arcadic Doric Ionic

attic

²

/ ˈætɪk /

noun

1. a space or room within the roof of a house

2. architect a storey or low wall above the cornice of a classical façade

Other Word Forms

• non-Attic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attic¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; special use of Attic

Origin of attic²

1555–65; < Latin Atticus < Greek Attikós

Word History and Origins

Origin of attic¹

C18: special use of _Attic from the use of Attic-style pilasters to adorn the façade of the top storey

Example Sentences

On Tuesday, acting on “new investigative information,” officers returned to the home on 14th Street and did a more thorough search, discovering the hidden entry to the attic, police said.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Ford said he was working closely with the families of the original characters and said it was like "getting your favourite cuddly toy out of the attic".

From BBC

“And you tell me that some 82-year-old is going to get up in the attic with a hazmat suit on, rip out the insulation and start vacuuming around?”

From Los Angeles Times

In the sixth episode she admits she hasn’t been up to her house’s attic since she found her own son hanging up there.

From Salon

Forty years later, he came across them while cleaning out his attic; among the wares was an old football helmet.

From Los Angeles Times